12, 14 AND 16, ANGEL HILL

Three adjoining houses incorporating shops, one of which is now divided into flats, located at the corner of Angel Hill and overlooking the River Loman in Tiverton. The building dates from probably the late 18th century, with late 19th and early 20th-century shop fronts added and 20th-century alterations to the roof.

The structure is built of smooth-plastered mass wall construction (No. 16 was originally red brick but has since been rendered). The roof is largely concealed behind a parapet with a stack at the left end.

The rectangular block occupies a corner site with one frontage onto Angel Hill and another frontage (No. 16) overlooking the River Loman. It may originally have comprised two houses but has been subdivided. The elevation to the rear of Angel Hill features two-storey projections.

The Angel Hill frontage rises three storeys with a 20th-century attic conversion. No. 16 has an additional half basement storey. The Angel Hill elevation is symmetrical above ground-floor level, presenting five windows with a rounded corner at the right end. A platband runs at second-floor level; the parapet is coped. The ground floor at the right end is decorated with channelled rustication, which also survives as a narrow pilaster at the left end. A disused doorway with rusticated surround sits at the right end; the remainder of the ground floor is occupied by shop fronts.

The first floor carries tall two-light casement windows with six panes per light, a low transom, margin panes and casements. The second-floor windows are 12-pane horned sashes. The shop front to No. 12 on the left has a recessed porch containing a 20th-century door to the accommodation and a glazed door with low panel to the shop. A continuous fascia spans the doorway and shop window with brackets and cornice. The plate glass show window has moulded mullions and frames. The adjacent shop front to the right has a fascia with left and right pilasters, with canted shop windows leading to a glazed front door with low panel and overlight. Large attic windows are visible in the altered roof. The rear elevation has small-pane sashes and casements, with a tall 18-pane rear centre window.

No. 16 presents a symmetrical three-bay front overlooking the River Loman, with platbands at first and second-floor level and below the parapet, which is decorated with sunk panels. Access to the front door is via an iron walkway on posts approached from Angel Hill; the walkway balustrade incorporates an oval motif and guilloche frieze. The round-headed doorway features a vermiculated rusticated surround with a bearded head as keyblock, similar to the Coadstone doorcases on the terraces in Southernhay, Exeter, and has a blind fanlight. The ground-floor windows match the first-floor windows on the Angel Hill return. The first-floor windows have been reglazed but preserve the early embrasures; the central window opens onto a pretty cast-iron balcony with lyre motif and Greek key frieze. The outer second-floor windows are 16-pane hornless sashes; the centre window has been reglazed as a two-light small-pane casement. Large 20th-century attic windows are visible in the raised roof above the parapet. At basement level, 12-pane sashes are present, with a 20th-century small-pane glazed door opening onto the riverbank walk.

The interior has not been inspected but may retain features of interest.