Theological College

THE CLOSE 1. 1594 No 19 (Theological College) SU 1429 NW 3/42 28.2.52. I GV 2. Late C17. 2 storey and attic. A symmetrical front with flanking slightly projecting wings. Brick on stone capped projecting plinth. Chamfered stone quoins, moulded stone string at first floor level. Moulded bracketed wood cornice on stone bed mould. Hipped old tile roof. Each wing has one dormer and 2 windows. The central part has 3 dormers, 5 windows on first floor, 4 windows on ground floor and 6-panel (top panel glazed) central door in eaved architrave surround, with doorcase of panelled pilasters capped with carved scroll brackets moulded string broken over brackets, bolection mould between architrave and string. Plain frieze and richly carved (acanthus pattern) brackets supporting flat moulded hood enriched with egg-and- tongue bed mould. The interior has panelled entrance hall. Good staircase with plain closed string, twisted balusters, Adjoining to the east flint rubble chapel with stone dressings by Butterfield 1881, Incongruous design with octagonal turret with stone upper part and short spire. Single and 2 light cusped windows and projecting gabled bay carried up through eaves. To the rear on east side is an L shape residential block of similar style and date, no doubt also by Butterfield. Flint rubble with brick bands, attic floor rendered with applied studding. Gable end tiled roof. Gabled dormers. Irregularly spaced thin stone buttresses to walls. Narrow single and paired sash windows. East end of north wing has hipped roof with finial. 3 storey canted hipped roof superimpose bay windows facing south.

All the listed buildings in the Close form an outstanding group.

Listing NGR: SU1442429709