Number 10 And Attached Front Area Railings

Number 10 Guinea Street is an early 18th-century house, dated 1718, built for Captain Edmond Saunders. It is located on the south side of Guinea Street in the Redcliff district of Bristol. The building is constructed of brick with limestone dressings and has a pantile gabled roof. It follows a double-depth plan and is an example of Early Georgian style architecture, standing two storeys high with a basement and attic, and featuring a two-window range.

The exterior displays brick pilasters, moulded strings at each floor level, and a moulded coping to a Dutch gable topped with an acorn finial. The right-hand doorway has scrolled timber brackets supporting a deep pediment, above a rectangular doorframe surmounted by a semicircular overlight with a curly top and plate glass. The door itself is from the mid-18th century, with six Gothic panels. Rubbed-brick flat arches above the windows on the second floor have keys carrying various motifs, including grotesque faces, fish, birds, fruit, and a harp, and contain 6/6-pane sashes. A smaller sash window is located in the gable. A rear ground-floor window has a 9/9-pane sash with thick glazing bars.

The interior is remarkably complete. It includes a flagged and fully-panelled through passage divided by a semicircular arch with a Greek key soffit. A central newel staircase has an uncut string, slim turned balusters, and straight toadback rails to square newels. The front ground-floor room retains a modillion cornice, a fine eared fireplace with rocaille foliate decoration (comparable to Number 18 Guinea Street), fielded panelled shutters and wainscot. The rear ground-floor room is fully panelled, with a very fine rocaille fireplace and overmantel flanked by slender columns with acanthus capitals, and a side cupboard with a fluted cornice. Fine moulded architraves frame the six-panel doors.

The front area, with steps leading down to the basement, has attached wrought-iron railings and capped piers. The house was originally one property with Numbers 11 and 12 Guinea Street. Built for Captain Saunders, the motifs incorporated into the building may relate to him. It is described as a fine and remarkably complete house.