Essex House (Number 18) And Attached Area Railings

SO9522SW CHELTENHAM RODNEY ROAD (South East side)

630-1/14/787 Nos. 16A and 18 Essex House (No.18) and attached area railings 14/12/83

GV II

House, now house and office and attached area railings. Circa 1803. Developer, J Smith, plumber. Stucco over brick with concealed roof and stucco stacks; iron railings. Single depth plan with central hallway. EXTERIOR: 3 storey on basement, 5 first-floor windows with single storey extendion to the left. 6/6 sashes where original, all in plain reveals and with sills. Basement has 6/6 sashes in cambered-arched surrounds. 5 steps to central entrance to main block, flight of steos to 4-panel door in fluted frieze and fanlight, with batwing and circle glazing bars. Further entrance to extension, 6-flush-panel door with overlight. Low parapet with copings. INTERIOR: No.18 retains original plasterwork and joinery; embellished cornices with acanthus motif; panelled shutters; narrow-open-well staircase with stick balusters and wreathed handrail with embellished tread ends; doors have tooled architraves with fleurons. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: area lancet railings with urn finials to stanchions. Boot scraper to top step. HISTORICAL NOTE: land for the development was bought from Joseph Pitt in 1803; the first occupant was Mr Cooke, a surgeon (information from deeds). Building had commenced on Rodney Road by 1809 and many houses are shown on the Post Office Map of 1820.

Listing NGR: SO9502422291