Catholic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi — Francis Street

Attached five-bay double-height Catholic church, built 1779-84; dated 1784, on an L-shaped plan originally five-bay double-height single-cell on a rectangular plan comprising four-bay double-height nave opening into single-bay (single-bay deep) double-height transept abutting single-bay five-stage tower (north) on a square plan. "Improved", 1822. "Restored", 1856; 1860-3, producing present composition. Renovated, 1987, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roof on an L-shaped plan with ridge tiles, cut-granite "saddleback" coping to gables on cut-granite "Cavetto"-detailed ogee kneelers, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Rendered, ruled and lined walls with rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners; rendered, ruled and lined surface finish (east) on battered base. Round-headed window openings in tripartite arrangement with cut-granite sills on scroll consoles, carved timber arcaded mullions, and cut-granite surrounds centred on "bas-relief" keystones framing four-over-four timber sash windows having two-over-two sidelights below overlights (north) or storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels (south). Full-height interior with panelled organ gallery (west) on an elliptical bowed plan on paired Ionic pillars supporting timber panelled pipe organ, encaustic tiled central aisle between cruciform-detailed timber pews, cut-Caen stone Gothic-style monument (1835) with stained glass memorial windows (1889; 1890), bowed stepped dais to sanctuary (east) reordered, 1987, with pedimented side altars centred on segmental pedimented high altar, and "Guilloche"-detailed coffered barrel vaulted ceiling on Ionic pillars with "Acanthus" plasterwork centrepieces in egg-and-dart-detailed frames; full-height transept (north) with pair of stained glass memorial windows (1891) centred on pair of Classical-style wall monuments (ob. 1814; 1816), pair of stained glass memorial windows (1890), and "Guilloche"-detailed coffered barrel vaulted ceiling with "Acanthus" plasterwork centrepieces in egg-and-dart-detailed frames. Set in relandscaped grounds on a corner site with rendered, ruled and lined boundary wall to perimeter having cut-granite "saddleback" coping supporting "Fleur-de-Lys"-detailed wrought iron railings.