2 And 3, High Street

SS3403 HOLSWORTHY HIGH STREET (North side)

16/68 Nos 2 and 3

GV II

Shops with offices. Late C19. Brick or rendered brickwork, some stone dressings, slate roofs. A group of three (now 2) Italiante shops with offices or accommodation above, set to the curve of the street, with back wings containing very narrow light well. In 3 storeys plus attic; at ground floor are 3 shop fronts in simple detail with plate glass, that to No 3 (House of Hair) far right retaining 4 vertical panes and set-back door with large transom light. Divided by stone pilaster strips with horizontal grooving and decorative foliated caps carrying pair of brackets in continuous fascia below moulded continuous cornice topped by good decorative cast-iron balustrade. Each of 3 fronts has two pairs of windows at first and second floor with moulded architrave and decorative bay to arched heads carried on bracket capitals at responds and central detached colonnette. Pilaster bands carry through to cornice blocking and parapet with moulded cill band to second floor. Central to middle, curved unit a raised section supported by scrolls and containing pair of small arched lights to each side unit and 2 round-headed dormers. No 2 (Pretty Maid) is rendered at the front. Plain gable returns plate glass sashes in set-backs to light wells. Broad brick stack at north end of No. 3.

A vigorous and little altered late Victorian composition holding an important position at a street junction and near the church, opposite No 3 North Road (qv) in similar style.

Listing NGR: SS3433103864