Edwards Homes

WEYMOUTH

SY6778NE RODWELL ROAD 873-1/23/251 (East side) Nos.1-5 (Consecutive) Edwards' Homes

GV II

Group of 5 almshouses. 1894. For Sir Henry Edwards. Broadmayne brick, Portland stone dressings, slate roofs with scalloped clay ridges. Tudor Revival style. PLAN: Nos 1-3 are in a T-shaped block, with a main gable brought forward at the left-hand end, and linked to Nos 4 & 5 with a low screen wall with doorway. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, each unit 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 4 & 5. The upper casements have small-scale diamond cast-iron lights, and the lower small rectangular panes. The doors, on stone steps, and paired to Nos 4 & 5 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 moulding approx 600m above, and a similar sill band at first-floor level. The gables, with a blind lancet to stone head and sill, are coped, on kneelers, and with roll-mould saddle-stones. At each party wall, and at end gables, are raised coped verges, and the brick stacks have high stone cappings with crenellations. The doors to Nos 1 & 2 are in the internal angle, sharing a slated porch on Portland stone brackets. Above each of the doors is a Portland stone sunk panel with monogram EH and a lion's head, surmounted by a label with raised centre. Between Nos 3 & 4 is a brick screen wall with stone coping containing a plank door under a flush stone lintel. There are original cast-iron down-pipes and hopper-heads, and ovolo-mould gutters. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: Sir Henry Edwards who was mayor of Weymouth, and MP for the constituency, was a considerable benefactor in the town. These almshouses are richly detailed, and externally remain little altered. Part of a larger group including Nos 10-14 (consec) James Street (qv); there is a further group, of 1896, in similar detail, in Rodwell Avenue (qv).

Listing NGR: SY6754678581