Literary And Scientific Institute

The Literary and Scientific Institute, originally built as a school in 1822, is a three-storey building with a narrow front that is set well back from Northgate Street, featuring a forecourt. The upper floors are faced in Bath stone cut to resemble brick, while the ground floor and plinth are made of ashlar. The building has a shallow coved cornice and a blocking course, with the ends canted out over fanned bracket projections.

On the second floor, there is a centrally located two-light mullioned casement window with four-centred arches to the lights and top panes, surrounded by a splayed stone frame and small panelled spandrels, topped with a drip mould. Above this window is a small panel displaying the date. The first floor features a similar three-light window, with a rectangular panel below that has the inscription "British Schools." There is a full-width drip mould over the ground floor, which has two windows and a central door set in a similar surround to the windows above, complete with panelled spandrels. The ground floor windows are larger, with four-centred arches, six panes, sloping sills, and recessed panels below. The plank door, adorned with ornate wrought iron hinges, is also set under a four-centred arch. The building has curiosity value.

Nos 46 to 55, which are consecutive, form a group with this building.