Edwards Homes

WEYMOUTH

SY6778NE JAMES STREET 873-1/23/203 (East side) Nos.10-14 (Consecutive) Edwards' Homes

GV II

Group of 5 almshouses. 1894, endowed by Sir Henry Edwards. Broadmayne brick with Portland stone dressings, slate roofs with scalloped clay ridges. PLAN: part of a larger group which starts in Rodwell Road (qv), this section has a T-plan block set gable-end to Rodwell Road, with a detached pair at the far end, all in a Tudor Revival style. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, each with 1 window under a flush face gable. All windows are 3-light casements with stone transom and mullions, alternating flush jamb stones and plain lintel; those at ground floor have small labels, continued over the doors to Nos 10 & 11; the upper lights have small-scale diamond panes in cast-iron, and the lower lights small rectangular panes. Above the first-floor window to No.14, and extending above the lintel is a panel with the date 1894. The doors, on stone steps, and paired to Nos 10 & 11, have 3 small panels below glazed lights to 4-centred heads under a deep transom light with diagonal panes. A rock-faced stone plinth, with a thin stone band to the brickwork at approx 0.6m above it, and a similar sill band at first floor. The gables, with a blind lancet to stone sill and head, are coped, on kneelers, and with roll-mould saddle-stones. At each party wall and end gables are raised coped verges, and the brick stacks have high stone cappings with crenellations. Above each of the doors is a Portland stone sunk panel with the monogram EH and a lion's head, surmounted by a label with a raised centre. Nos 10 & 11 are 3-panel doors with 3 upper glazed panels to 4-centred heads under a deep transom light; above these are Portland stone panels with a carved lion's head, and EH monogram, under ogee heads. The doors to Nos 13 & 14 are in the internal angle to the short projecting wing, with a slated porch on deep Portland stone brackets. There are original cast-iron downpipes with square hopper-heads, ovolo-mould gutters. The return to Rodwell Road has a large external stack, with stone offset at first-floor level, and a niche with decorative terracotta tiles inset, and below a gabled 'label'; the stack has been cropped below ridge height. To each side, at ground

floor, is a single-light window to detail as the main front. Various rear projections, and single-light windows at each level. On the outer corner of the building, set on the splay, is a large Portland stone panel, to a 'nodding-ogee' head, above a shield with coat of arms, and 'Perseverance', inscribed: THESE HOMES WERE ERECTED AND ENDOWED BY SIR HENRY EDWARDS. A.D.1894.' Sir Henry was Mayor of Weymouth, MP for the constituency, and a considerable benefactor in the town. INTERIOR: not inspected. These almshouses are richly detailed, and externally remain little altered; there is a further almshouse group in similar detail, in Rodwell Avenue (qv).

Listing NGR: SY6756478570