almshouse

End-of-terrace two-bay two-storey exposed rubble limestone former almshouse, built c. 1760, with an accretion to the rear, c. 2000. Pitched artificial slate roof with cast-iron rainwater goods. Rendered chimneystack with plain clay pots. Roof light to rear span. Squared rubble limestone walls to front, side and rear elevation, with red brick block-and-start quoins to rear corner and localised infill to side elevation. Camber-arched window openings, hand-made red brick flat arches, block-and-start reveals, limestone sills, exposed timber sash boxes and replacement six-over-six timber sash windows. One round-arch window opening to side elevation with red brick arch, squared off by a timber lintel, two-over-two timber sash window, c. 1990. Square-headed door opening with red brick flat arch, block-and-start reveals, replacement raised and fielded panelled timber door leaf, and frosted glass overlight. Facing onto Church Street and a small yard to the rear is enclosed by a rubble limestone wall to side and rear, raised to side elevation with concrete block wall forming external wall of extension. Adjacent to grounds of the Saint Munchin’s Church of Ireland church.

This house forms part of a relatively uniform modestly-scaled terrace of three similarly scaled houses continuing the streetscape north of the former Bishop's Palace, though breaking forward the building line. Though simply composed, the former almshouse has a regularity of design and proportion, which is most evident in the window openings; they are smaller at first floor level than at ground level, and form vertically emphasised rectilinear openings. Historically there is a prominence of almshouses in the Nicholas Street area, which is further emphasised by the Villiers Alms Houses located further north along Church Street, and indicative of the growth of an established charitable tradition in the City.