Compass House

Compass House is a villa, built around 1826-32, and later used as offices. The rear of the property was extended in the 1960s, but this addition has no particular architectural merit. The villa was designed by Edward Jenkins. It is constructed of ashlar facing brick, with a concealed roof.

The exterior is two storeys high, featuring three windows on the first floor. Architectural details include outer sunk pilasters and a first-floor band. A central section projects, featuring a ground-floor tetrastyle Ionic portico with a frieze and a low parapet decorated with wreaths. A flight of roll-edged steps leads to the eight-fielded-panel double doors and overlight. The ground floor has tripartite windows with tall one/one sash windows and a tooled architrave and cornice supported by console brackets. The first floor has one/one sash windows, with the central window also featuring a tooled architrave. All windows are set in plain reveals with panelled aprons. A crowning frieze and cornice tops the elevation, finished with a blocking course. The left return has a full-height bow window featuring two/two and one/one sashes, curved on plan.

The interior was not inspected.

Compass House, along with Burlington House, Carrick House, Imperial House and Stanmer House, forms a notable group of villas along the east side of Lypiatt Road. These villas were designed by Jenkins as part of an estate planned for James Fisher, which included Suffolk Square. Documents relating to the designs are reputedly held in the Gloucester Record Office.