52-67, Marshfield Road

A terrace of fifteen cottages on Marshfield Road, Chippenham, built in 1858. The cottages are constructed of limestone ashlar and have a virtually continuous, shallow-pitched slate roof with moulded ashlar stacks and moulded brick shafts to the party walls. They have double-depth plans with rear extensions. The terrace rises gradually uphill, causing slight steps in the roofs and first-floor bands. Each cottage is two windows wide, with raised surrounds and a keystone to the ground floor windows, and a door to the right, sheltered by a shallow hood on consoles. A semicircular arch provides access to the rear, located between numbers 59 and 60, and is surmounted by a plaque inscribed "R.B. 1858". Originally, each cottage featured a four-panel door with an overlight, either with margin panes or crossed glazing bars with a central circular design, and eight-over-eight pane sash windows. Later 19th century and 20th century replacements to the windows and doors are present, but the overall character of the terrace remains. The initials "R.B." refer to Rowland Brotherhood, who commissioned the cottages to house workers at his railway engineering works on Foundry Lane. These cottages represent a significant example of housing developed in the industrial suburbs following the arrival of the railway. The interior has not been inspected.