The Ralph Allen Town House

A part of the former town house of Ralph Allen created in 1727, possibly with earlier origins, in a highly decorative Palladian style attributed to John Wood the Elder.

MATERIALS: Limestone ashlar with pantile roof.

PLAN: Built as single depth extension, square in plan, behind an elaborate facade.

EXTERIOR: a three storey, three bay opulent frontis, with Classical order of giant Corinthian half columns over rusticated basement. Basement was originally an open loggia to Ralph Allen's garden, but now filled in. Central arched opening with keystone, nine over nine pane sash window with nine over nine with glazing bars. Flanked by narrow flat-headed keyed openings with four over six sashes. First floor conceived as a Serliana but with openings separated by giant columns. A huge central sash window, thirty over twenty-four pane, with radiating fan head, flanked by narrow sashes, six over six, with balustraded aprons. Upper floor has six over six sash flanked by four over four, relief swags on outer aprons. Pediment with oculus surrounded by elaborate wreathing, with balls on blocks at apexes in place of acroteria. Ridge stacks with pots.

INTERIOR: Not inspected. Believed to have been much altered. Contains a large C16 fireplace with a four-centred arch in the basement.