St Catherine'S Hospital

St Catherine's Hospital is an almshouse founded around 1552 and rebuilt around 1829, as noted by an inscription on the building. It was designed by G.P. Manners and is constructed from limestone ashlar with a Welsh slate roof. The building has a half quadrangular plan, featuring a central entrance on the west side and half-length wings to the north and south.

The exterior is in the Tudorbethan style and consists of two storeys. The main street elevation has nine windows arranged in a pattern of seven:one, with two-light stone mullioned casements and transoms on the ground floor, all adorned with dripmoulds. The end bays project slightly and feature gables, with the ground floor windows in these bays being three-light with timber transoms. A central doorway with a four-centred arch leads to the inner courtyard, featuring double four-panel doors and a dripmould above. Above the doorway, there is an inscription panel in a recess, also with a dripmould, stating: "St. Catherine's Hospital. Founded by Edward VI for the relief of poor aged persons. AD.MDLII. Rebuilt and enlarged by the Corporation of this City AD.MDCCCXXIX Wm. Tudor, Mayor." The building has a cornice and parapet, with the roof largely hidden from view, only visible at the gables. Tall ashlar stacks with four shafts and pots are present, and there is a four-window return to Beau Street, where the windows are two-light with a transom on the ground floor, except for the last window on the right, which is four-light.

The interior courtyard was not inspected. Historically, this hospital was not rebuilt on its original site, which was further south on the other side of Bilbury Lane. The foundation appears to date back to 1444 by William Phyllyps, who was mayor in 1432, but it was regranted by Edward VI in 1552.