Almshouses

STOCKTON HIGH STREET ST 93 NE (off south side) 7/135 Nos 1 to 6 (inclusive) Almshouses 11.9.68 GV II Six almshouses. Founded 1641 by Topp family, built 1657. Coursed rubble stone and dressed limestone in bands, Welsh slate roof with coped verges and finials. Brick or stone stacks with moulded cappings. Built around three sides of a courtyard with wall and gateway on south side, side wings. Single-storey and attic, 2-window south front. Central C20 double doors in chamfered stone surround, 2-light recessed chamfered mullioned casement either side; cast-iron casements throughout. Moulded string course below eaves with heraldic cartouche over door, two gabled stone attic dormers with 2-light mullioned casements. Flanking wings each have two glazed doors and one 2-light mullioned casement facing into courtyard, gable ends have one 2-light mullioned casement and string course. Side wings have chamfered doorways with C20 doors to front, left return of south wing has two single-light casements to both floors, right hand wing has single- light casements to ground floor only. Rear has glazed doors and single-light casements, single-storey wing to right with C20 planked doors and 2-light mullioned casements. Interior altered. Stone wall closing south side of courtyard has saddleback coping, central semi-circular arched gateway with rusticated gate piers, moulded cornice to top with finials and richly carved cartouche with arms of Topp. The Topp family were wealthy clothiers, John Topp built Stockton House (q.v.). (N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Wiltshire, 1975)

Listing NGR: ST9801138224