The Railings, Gate And Approach Steps To The North And West Of The Helyar Almshouses

The railings, gate, and approach steps to the north and west of the Helyar Almshouses are from the early 19th century. The steps are made of Ham stone and are flanked by cut and squared stone walls topped with thin flat Ham stone copings, located at the northwest corner of the Almshouses. The railings are made of wrought iron and extend from the northwest corner of the Almshouses, featuring a gate at the top of the steps and a return of approximately 35 meters along the west side, about 5 meters from the houses. The railings stand about 700 millimeters high and have skirted diamond spear tops that match the gate and posts. They are set on a Ham stone ashlar base wall that is approximately 850 millimeters high. These features are of significant value in enhancing the setting of the Almshouses and the approach to the Church of Saint Michael.