16, The Close

No. 16, The Close is an irregularly shaped block dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, with earlier origins and rebuilding during the 18th and 19th centuries. The building is two storeys with attics and is constructed of red brick, with the west wall at ground floor level exhibiting flint and stone rubble, traces of timber framing, and an overhang. The roof is hipped and covered with old tiles.

The south-facing elevation, overlooking North Walk, features a dormer window and a canted bay window on the first floor. The bay window has sash lights with a centre of four panes, a panelled apron, frieze, and cornice, decorated with gauged triglyphs. The east front has a coved moulded stone eaves cornice and two windows on each floor, all with multi-pane sashes retaining their glazing bars. The central entrance features a six-panel door surmounted by a rectangular fanlight with a leaded radial glazing pattern. The doorcase consists of thin panelled pilasters and fluted consoles supporting a cornice.

A projecting gabled wing, parallel to North Walk, has a single window facing south. The gable end is tile-hung with shaped tiles and includes a two-light leaded attic casement and a sash window on the ground floor. Around the ground floor of this wing is a delicate, early 19th-century wrought iron pergola with pointed arches and leaf ornament. An adjoining low, two-storey red brick extension, with grey headers, follows an L-plan and has hipped, differing level tile roofs.

The south return front features a semi-dormer window and a flush-framed tripartite sash window on the ground floor, with intact glazing bars, and a plain door to the left. Inside, fragments of original timber structure remain, including a wall post and bracket in the kitchen, and on the west side, a heavy chamfered tie beam and dragon beam. The projecting gabled wing incorporates three bays of trusses, with wind braces partly obscured by plaster, and traces of other roof structure in the attics, including collars and purlins. A first-floor drawing room has fielded pine panelling from the 18th century.

The building was formerly the residence of W.E. Tower, Kempe’s later partner, and contains fragments of Kempe’s glasswork, along with 15th-century quarries and coat of arms. Nos 14, 14A, St Anne's Gate and No 15 form a picturesque group.