19 And 21, Castle Street

Two connected buildings at 19 and 21 Castle Street, Cirencester. The left building (No. 19) is timber-framed with probable 17th-century origins; the right building (No. 21) is of rubble stone, also with 17th-century roots but largely rebuilt. Both received significant early 20th-century alterations, with schemes around 1902 and 1924 possibly by architect VA Lawson. A large late 20th-century extension has been added to the rear.

The exterior is constructed of coursed squared limestone rubble to the right and rendered timber-framing to the left, with stone slate roofs. The buildings feature multiple stacks: ashlar stacks with moulded tops at the right and left ends of the front slope to the left building, and a rendered brick right-end stack to the right building.

Both buildings present two gables to the front. The left building (No. 19) rises to two storeys and attic with a two-window range. The first floor contains two oriel windows with four lights to the front and single lights to each side, all glazed with leaded lights. A slender transom forms a segmental arch over the two centre lights. Both oriels have hipped stone-slated hoods and rendered bases. Two two-light leaded windows with moulded timber surrounds sit in the gables above, each with a single oval window in a rectangular timber field with moulded surround.

The ground floor features an oak shopfront dating from around 1924, with two five-by-four-pane bow windows flanking a central eight-pane door with five-pane overlight. A plank door with similar overlight to the left retains hand-made strap hinges and latch. Pilaster strips and four square-section posts support the oriel windows above. A frieze with moulded top runs around the oriels and carries carved lettering in relief reading "WH SMITH & SON". A moulded cill band marks the first floor. Three carved brackets to left, right and centre support moulded barge boards to the gables, which have pierced and shaped pendants at the apex.

The leadwork consists of square-section downpipes with five hoppers and a gutter across the front above the first floor to drain the oriel roof. The downpipes are decorated with applied cast-lead ornament including shells, animals and stylised foliage. The left downpipe is partially attached to the adjacent building, The Black Horse at No. 17 Castle Street.

The right building (No. 21) is three storeys with a two-window range. The first floor contains two 20th-century chamfered stone mullion and transom windows with leaded lights and hoodmoulds; two similar windows appear above. The ground floor has an oak frieze and cornice with lettering similar to No. 19. The shopfront now consists of a small plate glass window and three pairs of glazed swing doors. Blind oval windows sit in rusticated surrounds in the gables, which have moulded coping. Flush quoins mark the left and right angles.

The interior features fitting-out from around 1924 with later alterations. Oak beams and timber framing frame a large light-well to the centre, with timber mullion windows with leaded lights opening into it at first floor level. Sections of plaster frieze at the top of the light-well may be early work re-used. The upper floors were not inspected at the time of listing.

The building to the left (No. 19) was originally the house of the Vampage family. It was saved from demolition following public protest and converted into a garage by WG Bridges around 1902. It was converted into a shop by WH Smith in 1924–5, when the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) secured the retention of the plasterwork spread-eagles (the Vampage family badge) on the fronts of the oriels and moderated other proposals. The plasterwork has since been removed.