12-16, Sydney Buildings

Sydney Buildings comprises five terrace houses built on a sloping site that backs onto the Kennet and Avon Canal, dating to the mid to late 19th century. The houses are constructed of limestone ashlar with single-pitched slate roofs. Dormers are present, along with moulded stacks to the left gable end and alternate coped party walls, and cream crown-topped chimney pots are a distinctive feature. Each house is of double-depth plan and has two storeys with a two-bay front to the street. Fretted bargeboards decorate the gabled dormer of each house. The windows are plate glass sashes with stop-chamfered arrises and bracketed sills. A platband encircles the block, while cornices are positioned on elaborate consoles over the six-panel doors and overlights. The rear, or canal-side elevations are more architecturally detailed; the end houses have hipped roofs over full-height rectangular bays, and the three central houses have similar but canted bays, all with sill bands and plate glass sash windows. The interiors were not inspected.