Birdwood House

1. 5180 HIGH STREET (South Side) No 44 (Birdwood House) SX 8060 SW 1/56 25.3.69.

II GV

1. Later C16 or early C17 merchant's house of "deux corps de batiments" type, still retaining the little and great courts at the rear. Refronted late C18. The building was formerly known as Somerset House, later as Paynes House. Formerly the residence of the Babbage family and also of William Payne, innkeeper, and mayor in 1707 and 1728 Dr Roger Birdwood, mayor in 1781, 1789 and 1795 also lived here. 3 storeys and central dormer. Symmetrical front with 3 windows. Hipped Welsh slate roof with rendered stacks and projecting eaves with coved cornice. Plastered front still retaining moulded granite corbel of former 1st floor jetty. Flat headed casement dormer with glazing bars. Architraved sash windows with glazing bars. Ground floor 3 bay loggia over pavement carried by granite Tuscan columns bearing entablature. Central doorway with rectangular fanlight and raised and fielded panel door. Interior with late C18 open well staircase to upper floors with carved brackets, turned balusters, octagonal column newels and moulded, ramped handrails. Interior remodelled earlier C19. At rear C16 detached kitchen block connected to house by passage on site of former gallery. Former kitchen block 2 storeys. 1 window. Bitumenised Welsh slate roof. Devonian, random linestone rubble gable wall. Close-studded timber-framed front with chamfered studs and bressumers. Plaster panels. 1st floor with 4 light, mullioned window with ogee mouldings and C19 fenestration. Ground floor with remains of similar 3 light window. At rear of kitchen and connected by passage 3 storey warehouse Welsh slate roof. Devonian limestone rubble gable wall. Slate-hung timber framed front with modern openings. (M Laithwaite).

Listing NGR: SX8009560438