14, Cathedral Close

This is a large house, now used as offices, dating from the 1840s. It is constructed of snecked grey limestone with ashlar quoins, stucco dressings, and concrete coping to the gables, and has slate roofs with cast iron rainwater goods. The building exhibits Gothic Revival detailing on its roughly symmetrical front elevation.

The house has an approximately rectangular plan with projecting wings to the front. Rooms are heated by end stacks to the left and at the front right. The front elevation is asymmetrical, featuring a two-window arrangement and a projecting chimney stack to the right (the shaft of which has been dismantled). A stucco platband runs at first floor level. A central, projecting porch has a parapet, and the four-centred arched doorway is adorned with an ovolo/cavetto moulding and planted panels. A small single-light window is set into the right return of the porch. Ground floor and first floor windows to the left are two-light mullioned windows with hornless sashes containing small panes of glass. Half-dormers are present, featuring a two-light casement to the left and a two-light mullioned window with a hornless sash to the right.

The garden elevation, on the right return, is symmetrical, with a 1:3:1 bay arrangement. The end bays are gabled to the front, with coped gables and kneelers, while the middle bay is lower and recessed, featuring a crenellated parapet that partially obscures the roof. A stucco platband runs at first floor sill level. The ground floor windows in the end bays are three-light small-pane casements, while the middle bay has three two-light windows with glazing bars. First-floor windows and those in the gable ends are mullioned with hornless sashes containing small panes of glass. Basement windows are sixteen-pane hornless sashes.

The left return has three bays, with coped gables to the end bays and a string course. Projecting lateral stacks are present in the end bays. A lower, recessed bay in the middle has a gutter supported by brackets. A single-storey plus basement service block projects from the middle bay, with scattered fenestration featuring small-pane hornless sashes.

The interior, only partially inspected, retains some original features including a two-leaf inner door with glazed upper panels and a four-centred arched overlight. The front staircase has stick balusters and a wreathed handrail. Most original internal doors and ground floor window shutters remain.

The building contributes to the environment of the cathedral, positioned between the cathedral and post-war rebuilding to the north east.