St Just

A large detached town house, now offices, was built in 1887, as indicated by a datestone. The house is constructed of brick and timber framing with some tile hanging, and has a peg-tile roof. Brick chimney stacks are prominent, some featuring very tall shafts and corbelled cornices, and original cast iron rainwater goods are still in place. Designed in a Free Vernacular Revival style, the building’s plan is approximately rectangular, with the entrance facing Hillsborough Avenue.

The exterior is remarkably unaltered and rich in detail. The three-bay entrance elevation features a jettied timber-framed gable with deep verges and ornamental bargeboards to the second floor on the right-hand bay. A projecting stack is located to the left-hand bay. A recessed porch, with a lean-to roof supported by a two-bay asymmetrical arcade, sits in the centre bay, sheltering the front door which has geometric sunk panels and glazing bars to the overlight and stained glass in the side panels. The right-hand bay exhibits a two-tier bay window with tile hanging and ornamental bands. The windows throughout the building generally follow a high-transomed casement design, with varying geometric patterns – a central square on the ground floor, a central lozenge on the first floor, and small square panes on the second floor. A pair of paired one-light windows on the second floor, adjacent to the chimney stack, continue this pattern. The garden elevation, facing Pennsylvania Road, is also three bays, with the left-hand bay set back. The main block features two two-tier canted bays with moulded brick corbels and pediments, a blind segmental-headed recess on the ground floor, and tile hanging. The second floor is jettied on shaped brackets and has two gables with deep ornamental bargeboards and herringbone framing. The 2-storey service wing to the rear is simpler in design.

The interior, partially inspected, remains largely complete with plaster cornices and doors, now incorporating fire protection panels. A good staircase features slender turned balusters with scallop shell detailing, and a window on the staircase has stained glass incorporating initials. Original panelling and joinery are also present.

The house, known as St Just, was commissioned by the Brock family, who owned a furniture emporium in Exeter on the corner of North Street and Fore Street. It is considered an exceptionally richly-detailed and complete example of a Vernacular Revival house.