Nos. 8 And 8A And Attached Railings

House, now flats. Designed by John Wood the Younger, built around 1777 with 19th and 20th century alterations. Located at the north end of the west range of Catharine Place, where it breaks forward slightly to form a pavilion terminating the terrace.

The building is constructed in limestone ashlar to the front and right side, now painted, with rubble to the plinth at basement level and rendered to the rear. It has a double-pile parapeted mansard roof, hipped to the right and covered with Welsh slate on the front and rear. Two ashlar chimneys with some early clay pots sit on the coped party wall to the left, with a smaller ashlar stack on the section of coped wall to the front right.

The plan comprises the main house with a single bay range set back slightly to the right. The entrance front faces onto Rivers Street to the right side, with the staircase positioned to the front.

The front elevation displays three storeys, an attic and basement, arranged as a three-window range with a further single window range to the right. The first floor contains two 19th century two-light casements to the left and centre, with horned two-over-two sashes to the right set in ovolo moulded architraves with friezes and cornices. These windows were lengthened and an early 19th century balcony with wrought and cast iron balustrade and timber deck on wrought and cast iron brackets was added to the first floor. To the first floor right is a plate glass horned sash in a plain reveal with stone sill. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in ovolo moulded architraves with stone sills, plus a similar sash to the right in plain reveal with stone sill. The ground floor contains four plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills. The basement has three plate glass horned sashes in plain reveals with stone sills, a 20th century glazed door, and an opening to a sub-basement under the centre window protected by a wrought iron guard. Pennant area steps with a wrought iron handrail provide access. One double dormer with plate glass sashes lights the attic.

A band course runs over the ground floor to the main range, inscribed with the street name CATHARINE PLACE. A modillion eaves cornice and coped parapet crown the main section. A moulded cornice sits over the ground floor to the single window range to the right, with the upper moulding of the modillion cornice and coped parapet of the main range continuing across.

The entrance front to the right side features three blind windows to each of the first and second floors. A small 20th century window in a plain reveal with stone sill sits on the second floor. The ground floor has two blind windows with stone sills and a similar plate glass horned sash. A six-panel door with flush and fielded panels and single pane overlight, set in a pedimented Doric doorcase, is positioned to the centre left. A shallow plinth, moulded cornice over the ground floor, sill bands to the first and second floors, and a small moulded eaves cornice with coped parapet complete this elevation.

The rear elevation has four two-over-two sashes to each of the first and second floors, those on the first floor fitted with simple wrought iron balconettes. Three similar windows light the ground floor, with a pair of 20th century doors nearby. The basement contains two six-over-six sashes, a 20th century window and door, and a double dormer with plate glass horned sashes.

The interior of the rear ground floor flat contains a very ornate frieze and cornice, though this has been unsympathetically restored. An inspection was carried out by Bath Council in 1974.

Attached wrought iron railings with a lifting section and gate on limestone bases form subsidiary features of the property.