Belmont Hospital

Belmont Hospital, Tiverton

Originally a workhouse, now in use as a hospital with clinics. The building was rebuilt in 1837–1838 to the designs of Scott and Moffat, and has undergone considerable later alterations including some demolition.

The structure is built of local purple stone, some snecked, some rubble, with red sandstone lintels to the windows. The roofs are slate, and there are chimney stacks with glazed cream brick shafts.

The plan comprises a main block on a west–east axis incorporating a central tower, with rear left and right wings. The north-east wing houses a residence, while the north-west contains a single-storey service wing. A rear centre single-storey wing served as the kitchen. On the south side, one of the original single-storey entrance pavilions survives, parallel to the main range and linked by a single-storey front wing. The corresponding eastern pavilion has been demolished, as have the entrance gates. Behind the main block stands a separate range, said to have been the casual wing for temporary workhouse users. The courtyard between the casual wing and main range contains a detached laundry and a later boiler house (the boiler house is excluded from the listing). A pedestrian gateway and small lodge at the entrance from Water Lane are separately listed.

The main range is three storeys, incorporating a four-storey central octagonal tower. The range terminates in wider blocks at either end with small wings to the west and east. The south front displays a 1:5:5:5:1 window pattern, with the five central windows serving the tower, which has pedimented gables but has lost its octagonal lantern since 1972. The windows are mostly three-light metal casements, though the tower's rear retains a sash window. A modest four-panel door enters the tower, with remains of a timber pedimented pentice over it; the 1972 list description refers to an entrance porch with a round-headed window and pediment, presumably now reduced to the surviving pentice. To the rear, the single-storey kitchen features a series of vents and a louvred lantern along the ridge. The rear right (north-west) wing, possibly formerly the overseer's house, faces west into the courtyard with a roof hipped at the north end. This wing has a symmetrical three-bay front with a flush-panel front door with small-pane overlight and twelve-pane timber sashes.

The entrance block survives only in part, consisting of the west half—a smart single-storey T-plan lodge in snecked stone with red Breccia flat arches to the openings, a stone eaves band, and twelve-pane timber sash windows, with a doorway on the east end. The south front displays a 1:2:2 window pattern with a projecting front wing in the centre and one-window returns. The 1972 list description refers to two entrance pavilions and a central arch with wrought-iron gates, now demolished.

The casual wing has been altered but is included for group value. It is a long range on a north–south axis terminating in square blocks with a square block in the centre, and separately roofed stair projections with platbands off the square blocks to the rear. The rear centre block has been rebuilt in brick. Entrances occur on the returns of the blocks on the south side, which displays a 2:4:2:4:2 window front and a stone eaves band. The north side has various single-storey lean-tos added. An attractive cast-iron fire escape adorns the west end.

The laundry is a minor building included for group value. Located in the courtyard between the casual wing and the main range, it is single-storey with vents on the ridge. The south elevation has a gable to the west and comprises four plank doors and four windows. Its interior features a king post and strut roof structure.

The interior of the main and casual block was not inspected.

The workhouse was built on an earlier hospital site and cost £8,800. Pevsner described the building as "badly-treated but the dignified classical composition still recognisable".