3, Regent Street

TEIGNMOUTH

SX9472 REGENT STREET 25-1/7/190 (North side) 30/06/49 No.3

GV II

Library and publishing house, now a shop. c1815, by WE Rolfe of London; c1900 shop front. Painted stucco, slate roof with 3 rectangular glazed lanterns. L-plan including a rear right wing. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 4 bays, symmetrical 3-window range with a 4th set-back range to the right. A panelled parapet is stepped up over the central bowed bay. The words 'The Royal Library' are raised in the central panel, a platband is below it. Full-height French windows to the 1st floor have margin panes and overlights with intersecting glazing bars, flanked by narrow recessed panels containing reeded shafts with moulded caps and plinths and pointed spikes to the tops. The bay to the right has one tall 3-pane casement window with similar overlights. The shop front, with a moulded cornice to the fascia, is stepped forward and canted back to the right. Below the fascia is a double row of small-paned windows. Set-back C20 double doors and plate-glass windows. INTERIOR: mostly lined with c1900 tongue-and-groove matchboarding with C20 shop fittings in front. The simple oak stairs to rear left-of-centre (the lower flight is probably repositioned) with a moulded handrail and stick balusters lead to a rectangular balustered gallery, formerly the stairwell. Above it the ceiling is coved, crowned by a large rectangular lantern with plaster panels decorated with animals, rose and fleur-de-lys motifs, the glazing has diamond-shaped panes to the vertical sides and a hipped glass roof. A similar lantern to the front-right range has plain panels. The rear storage wing has a lean-to roof with matchboarded ceiling and walls. HISTORICAL NOTE: this was Croyden's publishing house from which the first Teignmouth guide was issued in 1817. A fine facade, echoing the style adopted by many cottage ornee which dotted the countryside around Teignmouth and Shaldon. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Cherry B: Devon: London: 1989-: 799).

Listing NGR: SX9419572965