8-18, Norfolk Crescent

Eleven houses forming part of a symmetrical crescent of eighteen, constructed between approximately 1800 and 1820. Possibly designed by John Palmer and completed by John Pinch after 1810, when only the first nine houses were finished. The development occupied land leased in 1792 to an attorney named Richard Bowsher, who operated with builders James Broom and John King. Credit constraints following the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in 1793 caused significant delays, and a subscription was opened in 1810 to fund completion of this section in an identical style to the earlier houses.

The houses are built of limestone ashlar with slate roofs, except for No.16 which has double Roman tile. Each house follows a large double-depth plan of three bays with four storeys and basement, rising to five storeys at the rear due to the fall of the site. The principal facades display a sophisticated arrangement of giant Ionic pilasters dividing the bays. The three end bays are marked by four pilasters brought forward slightly as stopped ends, with Nos 8 and 9 forming a central pedimented five-bay section flanked by two slight steps forward. Ground floor levels are rusticated with rusticated voussoirs to doors and windows; a sill band runs at second floor level threaded to the pilasters, and a full entablature with enclosed pediment spans the entire crescent, crowned by cornice, blocking course and parapet. Party divisions are coped with two-stage ashlar stacks, and roofs are hipped at the far end.

Original fenestration was of sashes throughout, with proportions varying by floor: six-pane in attic storeys above twelve-pane, and eighteen-pane to stone slab balconies with iron railings at first floor; ground floors had twelve-pane, with matching lights to basements. This layout survives only at Nos 14, 15 and 18, some with blind centre lights. Alterations include plain sashes at Nos 9, 10 and 11; No.12 and No.13 feature eight-pane and six-pane attic lights respectively, with two-light casements with transoms at first and ground floors. No.16 has six-pane attics above plain lights; No.17 has steel casements in original openings. Doors feature throughout, panelled with deep transom lights and decorative bar infills to the left in Nos 9-14 and to the right in Nos 16 and 17. No.18 has an extra bay set back to the right with a pair of panelled doors and fanlight in deep reveals beneath an arched opening. The right return drops to the path by the river in three lofty floors with an extended bay containing various sashes. Rear elevations are generally of ashlar with continuous cornice, blocking course and parapet, and varied sashes; some later three or four storey small extensions are present. No.18 has a four-storey canted bay with sashes.

The basements are fronted throughout with good spearhead railings on ashlar curbs returned to rounded tops at doorways. No.14 retains an original iron overthrow matching that at No.7.

Interiors have not been inspected but are known to be much altered through conversion to flats, though some ceiling plasterwork survives in part.

The crescent represents a notable edge-of-town development combining a major urban-scaled project with unspoiled rural prospect in the manner of the Royal Crescent. Seven houses were severely damaged during air raids in 1942 and were almost entirely rebuilt. Their restoration earned a Civic Trust award in 1963. The houses were subsequently subdivided into council-owned flats.