Parade House

FORE STREET 1. 5411 (North West Side) No 70 (Parade House) (formerly listed as No 68 (Ushers Brewery Offices) ST 8558 4/77 29,12.50. I GV

1. Circa 1730. Built for a member of the Houlton family. 2 storey, attic and basement. Ashlar stone. Moulded plinth. Moulded cornice string over ground floor windows. Elaborate moulded cornice on carved brackets of acanthus pattern. Chamfered bonded quoins. The 3 central bays have a slight projection, with panelled angle pilasters and pediment over main cornice. 2 dormers. 7 windows on 1st floor, all with bolection architrave surrounds and carved keystones and frieze enriched with scroll leaf pattern; the centre window is flanked by vertical panels of carved leaves on wall face. All windows have moulded cills. 6 similar windows on ground floor and 8-panel central door in surround of eared bolection architrave, with frieze enriched with scroll leaf pattern, curved console brackets, entablature, broken forward over brackets, with cornice curved back in centre and elaborate double scroll open pediment with carved cartouche and supporting side scrolls. Paired windows to basement. Hipped stone slate roof; decorative leadwork fringing dormers. 2 ashlar chimneys in centre valley of roof. The interior has contemporary panelled rooms, 1 with inlaid floor of cross banding between boards. Fine oak staircase with carved string and panelled and ramped dado; rich plasterwork, especially fruit and flower cornice to stair well. Segmental arch to hall, tall bolection door surrounds with brass Dutch drop handles; door into left hand room has slight break into cornice. Pitched path to pavement.

Nos 65 to 68 (consec), Nos 70 to 73 (consec), railings and gates to Nos 68 and 70, dwarf stone wall to No 72, No 64 (Lloyds Bank) and Usher's Brewery Corner Block, form an outstanding group with No 8 and premises occupied by K.J. Lestor to south west of No 8 Wicker Hill.

Listing NGR: ST8546958067