18 Severn Street

The building at 18 Severn Street dates to 1863, although it incorporates elements of an earlier dwelling house, likely from the late 18th century. The 1863 construction represents a substantial remodelling, creating a purpose-designed office building, believed to be the first of its kind in the county, commissioned for the solicitor Abraham Howell who acquired the site in 1853. The original house forms the core of the present structure, but was refronted, raised in height, and re-ordered internally.

The building comprises two parallel ranges, with the main front elevation largely dating to 1863. It is constructed primarily of brick, with some rubble in the gable, and features slate roofs with gathered gable end stacks. The three-storey main elevation has a three-window range with a central entrance. The ground floor is banded with blue brick, and includes impost and sill bands to the first floor. A projecting ashlar porch has chamfered shafts springing from a raking base, supporting a steep archway with stiff-leaf capitals. The spandrels of the arch display monograms of the original partners and the date. A cornice leads to a flat roof with a wrought-iron railing. The flanking windows on the ground floor are four-pane sashes set in steeply arched openings with banded brick heads and raking stone sills. Similar window detailing continues to the first floor, with a continuous moulded stone sill band. The top storey has a continuous raking sill band, a low central window below the eaves (oversailing on tall moulded brackets), and gabled dormer heads breaking the eaves line. These outer windows are set in raised brick panels and feature four-pane sashes with steeply arched brick heads, stone balconettes with wrought-iron rails, and shaped stone coped gables surmounted by wrought iron fleches. The rear elevation retains substantial elements of the circa 1800 house, with brick construction forming two parallel gables and 12-pane sash windows with wide splayed heads to the upper storeys. A single similar window remains on the ground floor, but a rear doorway (a 1863 insertion) features a four-panelled door with chamfered jambs, marginal glazing to side lights, and is set within a segmental brick arch sprung from stone kneelers.

The interior includes a central entrance hall leading to a rear stair hall, with offices opening off it on the ground floor, including an original strong room. A staircase rises the full height of the building, with chamfered rails, angled newels, and moulded tread-ends. The first floor is planned with paired interconnecting offices on either side of the stair hall.

A cast-iron rail on a low plinth wall encloses a narrow forecourt to either side of the entrance porch.

The building exemplifies Gothic Revival style and is notable for its reconstruction from an earlier building to create a distinctive office building.

Reference: Ion Trant, The Changing Face of Welshpool, 1986, p.88.