Argyle House

SX 9292 NW GANDY STREET 871/3/10056 (Northeast side) 23-JUN-00 Argyle House

II

Large house now used as offices. Late C17 with C19 alterations. Mass wall construction, painted, stuccoed and blocked out; slate roof with red ridge tiles; cast iron rainwater goods. Plan: L-plan. Main range with front right wing gabled to the front. One-room deep. Rooms heated by stack to left end; rear right central stair. Exterior: 3 storeys plus attics and basements. Asymmetrical 5-window front. Porch with 6 panel door with fielded panels and moulded architrave, rectangular overlight with margin panes. To ground floor left is one 12-pane boxed hornless sash window. To ground floor right in wing is a tripartite boxed sash without horns and 2/2, 6/6, 2/2 panes. 2-light casements at first and second floor levels. 2-light casement window in gable and 2-light casement roof dormer. Basement window to left is a 3-light casement. To right, in the wing, are two 2-light casements. Blind windows in left return of wing. Cross tie at first floor level. Right return stuccoed and painted. Skylight in roof. Cross ties at first and 2nd floor level to the left. INTERIOR: dogleg stair with stick balusters to first floor. The original C17 staircase survives at second floor level with turned balusters. C17 doors and a bolection-moulded chimney-piece not seen on inspection but photographically recorded by John R L Thorp. C19 features include doorcases, doors and shutters. Victorian tiled fireplace to ground floor left. Historical Note: Photographs and measured drawings by John Thorp archived at the Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit. A good example of a C17 town house surviving in the city centre.

Listing NGR: SX9202092822