Herrison House

Herrison House is a hospital building, now primarily used as administration offices, dating to circa 1904. It is constructed of red brick with cream terracotta dressings and decorative features, and has slate roofs. The building has a complex, rambling plan, comprising a main centre block and lower wings forming a flat U-shaped layout facing south, and a second courtyard to the north. The detailing on the south side is more elaborate than that on the north, although a consistent level of detail is present throughout. The main south front has a 1:5:1:5:1 bay arrangement, featuring a series of modelled Dutch gables with stone copings and finials, and a series of two-storey canted bays in a three-storey block. All windows incorporate terracotta mullions and transoms, behind which are plate glass sashes. Terracotta bands run horizontally at plinth, cill, and lintel levels, extending across the ground and first floors. The central, brought-forward gable unit is richly ornamented with terracotta scrolled detailing, including a clock face and small, flanking octagonal, "pepper-pot" turrets, and has a three-storey canted bay window. Lintel heads are formed in terracotta with joggled joints, and there are series of brick ridge stacks. The two-storey wings are brought forward at each end, with similar Dutch gables; the wing to the right has an extended single-storey block with a flat roof, in consistent detail and possibly a later addition. A long return is present. The east arm has a projecting block, all two-storey, with many prominent ridge stacks. The rear elevation has a projecting square stair turret, with a faceted glazed porch below, which has a glazed roof and now serves as the principal entry. Internally, the detailing is simple but consistent, including modelled painted dado panelling, painted wooden fire surrounds with mantel shelves, plain chamfered segmental-headed openings, panelled doors in reveals and architraves, and glazed doors and panels to segmental heads, all original Edwardian detailing. The entrance hall on the north side features polished hardwood panelling and doors, with some Art Nouveau coloured glass, and two scagliola columns supporting arches to a flat ceiling with rectilinear subdivisions. A dog-leg staircase rises to the spine wall within the stair turret. Detailing remains largely unaltered throughout the building, being simplified at the top level. Later additions include fire doors and fluorescent strip lighting. Despite an somewhat incoherent plan, likely reflecting a series of design elements, the building is vigorously and well worked out and represents a remarkably unchanged example of design influenced by the great country houses of the Edwardian era.