Unitarian Church

1. WEST HILL ROAD 5186 (East Side) Unitarian Church SZ 09SE 12/93

II

2 Unitarian Church. c1890. Red brick with cream limestone dressings, concrete tile roof. A two storey main body with central gables flush with wall, this all away from street, and to street a semi-hexagonal body, plus, right and almost free-standing, a hexagonal tower, all in a free Gothic interpretation with C14 and C15 details. Church has two 3-light perpendicular style windows under brick arches, that to left under rich pierced parapet, and centrally under coped gable, each with paired brick capped turrets; the main windows are over cross-mullioned openings at basement, behind which are wood sashes. Very slender tower stands on base with pair of plank doors in 4-centre brick arch under slight ogee stone drip and a rich pierced parapet; above this heavy stone weathered course at base of very lofty lancets with flamboyant tracery, separated by brick buttresses capped with stone saddle copings,under a stage with trefoil openings in circular lights with stone voussoirs at diagonal points; parapet with semi- circular sinkings at centre points, all crowned with pinnacles and stone spouts. Side elevations relatively austere, with three 2-light stone mullioned, transomed and traceried windows, the central one under a gable; at lower level paired sashes; and at back a storey domestic extension. Interior not inspected, but lower hall has original steel transverse beams with curved tee-section supports riveted on. A very rich mannerist interpretation of mediaeval items coupled with imaginative freestyle touches.

Listing NGR: SZ0821890929