Almshouses, boundary wall and gate piers, Nos. 60-66 Union Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter

The almshouses, boundary wall, and gate piers at 60-66 Union Road, Exeter, were built between 1872 and 1875 by A. H. Wills. They were constructed of brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with stone dressings, and have a roof covered in manmade cement fibre tiles.

The building is a terrace of four single-depth almshouses arranged along a north-south axis, with the south gable facing the road. A lean-to runs the length of the east elevation, and there are two porches on the west (front) elevation. The almshouses are arranged in pairs, with staircases located centrally and opposing fireplaces; however, the southernmost almshouse has its fireplace on the east wall, alongside a south-facing bay window.

The two-storey terrace is largely symmetrical. A central ridge stack rises from the roof, with gable end stacks at the north and south ends of the east elevation. The west elevation features two gabled porches, each with stone columns supporting a two-centred arch with foliate carving on the spandrels. Later 20th-century doors are set within the porches, which are flanked by three-light windows with cusped heads. Dormers with trefoil stonework to the windows are set into the first floor, alongside inserted square bathroom windows. The south gable facing the road has a four-light canted bay window at ground floor and a two-light window with trefoil heads above. An elaborate date stone bearing the Exeter coat of arms denotes the year 1873. The rear (east) elevation is symmetrical, with a ground-floor lean-to and two outshuts, and first-floor sash windows arranged in pairs, with a six-over-six light pattern. The north gable is plain.

Foundation stones commemorate the founding of the Exeter Licensed Victuallers Society in 1848 at the north-west corner, and a stone laid by the Lady Mayoress of Exeter, Louisa Helen Harding, on 8th August 1872, marks the south-west corner.

Internally, the porches have black and white tiled floors and retain the original four-panelled entrance doors. Much of the original joinery remains, including four-panelled doors and the staircases. Fireplaces have been removed from the two cottages inspected.

The almshouses are enclosed by a low brick wall with brick coping. The entrance is marked by brick gate piers with stone pyramidal caps supporting an iron archway inscribed “LICENSED VICTUALLERS BENEVOLENT/HOMES,” topped with the Exeter coat of arms framed by iron scrolls.