house

Terraced two-bay four-storey over basement former townhouse, built c. 1825, with bowed elevation to west of rear (south) and two-storey two-stage return over basement to east of rear. Now in use as offices. M-profiled slate roof, brick chimneystacks to west party wall with yellow clay pots, concealed by ashlar granite parapet with moulded cornice and coping, parapet gutters and uPVC downpipe to west of principal elevation (north). Red brick walling in Flemish bond with rusticated granite quoins to east of principal elevation (north) over rusticated ashlar granite walling to ground floor, smooth rendered walling to basement, beneath granite stringcourse to lintel level. Square-headed window openings with brick voussoirs, patent reveals and projecting masonry sills; granite surround to basement. Iron guard rails to second floor level and ornate cast-iron balconettes to first floor windows. Largely one-over-one sliding timber sash windows with horns; three-over-three to third floor, six-over-six to second floor and eight-over-eight to basement, all without horns. Elliptical-headed door opening to principal elevation (north) with moulded reveals and Greek Doric doorcase with distyle fluted Doric columns supporting plain frieze and cornice surmounted by plain fanlight over eight-panelled painted timber door. Granite entrance platform with cast-iron boot scraper, approached by five bull-nosed granite steps, flanked by cast-iron railings with decorative corner posts over granite plinth, enclosing basement area. Steel steps to basement level. Coal-hole cover to pavement. Coursed limestone elliptical-headed carriage-arch with brick voussoirs, concrete and granite coping, and metal-sheeted doors with steel-rails. Abutted by random limestone wall to west, lining south boundary on Fitzwilliam Court.

Nos. 30-5 were built as a unified group by John Vance. Characterised by restrained detailing, vertical massing and well-balanced proportions the principal elevation is enlivened by the imposing Greek Doric doorcase, a common feature of the group, which is complemented by a variety of classically-styled doorcases across the remainder of the terrace. Retaining its original aspect to Fitzwilliam Square, the ornate balconettes, granite steps and decorative cast-iron railings serve to enhance the overall street setting. Forming part of a largely cohesive terrace, the rusticated stonework across the ground floor of Vance’s terrace, and that to the east by Clement Codd, suggests a degree of collaboration during the design or construction. However the subtle variations across the wider streetscape is indicative of the speculative nature of the square’s development. The south side constituted the final phase of construction, built between c. 1823-8 by three different contractors. Laid out in 1791 by the surveyors J & P Roe, Fitzwilliam Square was the last of the city’s Georgian squares to be completed. Development was staggered and progressed slowly until after the Napoleonic Wars.