Master Ropemakers House (S 103) And Attached Railings And Garden Wall Turncocks House

The Master Ropemaker's House, along with the attached railings and garden wall, and the Turncock's House at No.2 East Avenue, are part of the Devonport Dockyard complex in Plymouth. The main house was built between 1772 and 1773, and was later used as a school, now serving as an office. It is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with limestone dressings, featuring lateral stacks to the east and south, and a hipped slate roof.

The house has a single-depth office wing to the north, with double-depth rooms to the south, and a two-story service wing attached to the south. It’s three stories high with an attic and cellar. The front elevation facing the entrance is windowless, apart from two small inserted second-floor windows, and a doorway now covered by a mid-20th century porch. The north side has 16-pane sash windows, including a large dormer. The east side, facing the dock wall, has two windows towards the south. The south side has a single 16-pane sash window to the left and a two-story, single-window lower service range with a ground-floor 18-pane sash window. Attached to the south is a small former brewhouse or laundry with a lateral stack.

The interior was altered in the mid-20th century; original features include a dogleg staircase with a ramped moulded rail, dado panels, six-panel doors, and boxed cornices.

Attached iron railings with urn finials and column newels run along the front, together with two corner cannon bollards to the doorway. Matching railings on a low wall extend approximately 30 meters to the northwest. A garden wall encloses a garden to the south and is attached to the Dockyard wall.

Historically, the house was part of the important ropemaking complex that included the Spinning House, Hemp House, and other ropeyard buildings. The Turncock's House is dependent on the listing of the Master Ropemaker’s House.