Catholic Church of the Assumption — Joseph Street

Detached seven-bay double-height Catholic church, begun 1851; completed 1858; dated 1858, on a rectangular plan comprising seven-bay double-height nave opening into seven-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles; single-bay four-stage tower to entrance (west) front on a square plan supporting broach spire. Renovated, ----, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roof; lean-to slate roofs (side aisles), roll moulded cut-granite ridge tiles, cut-granite coping to gables on trefoil-detailed gabled kneelers with Cross finial to apex (east), and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with cut-granite flush quoins to corners; tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls (tower) on benchmark-inscribed cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with clasping stepped buttresses to corners having cut-granite "slated" coping. Paired pointed-arch window openings (clerestorey) between cast-iron cruciform tie plates, cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (side aisles) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch window opening (east) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch door opening (tower) with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having rebated reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing timber boarded double doors. Pointed-arch window opening (second stage) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pair of lancet openings (third stage) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings. Pair of pointed-arch openings (bell stage) between unfilled clock face roundel with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having rebated reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing louvered fittings. Interior including vestibule (west) with tessellated "quarry tile" floor, pair of wall-mounted Gothic-style ledgers with effigy-topped opposing tomb (----), pair of polished red granite Gothic-style wall monuments (ob. 1905; 1906), and timber boarded ceiling on chamfered timber beams on cut-granite beaded corbels; pointed-arch door opening into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight; full-height interior open into roof with arcaded choir gallery (west) on pointed-arch tripartite arcade supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ (1858), tiled central aisle between roll topped quatrefoil-detailed timber pews, pointed-arch arcades on cut-granite pillars, exposed pointed-arch braced collared timber roof construction on "Cavetto"-detailed thumbnail beaded corbels with timber boarded ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, carpeted stepped dais to sanctuary (east) reordered, ----, with arcaded communion railings centred on replacement altar below stained glass "East Window" (----), stepped daises to side altars with stained glass windows (----), timber boarded wainscoting to side aisles supporting chamfered timber dado rails, Gothic-style timber stations between stained glass memorial windows (1879; 1950), Gothic-style timber panelled confessional boxes, and exposed strutted timber roof construction on cut-granite beaded corbels with wind braced timber rafters to ceilings on carved timber cornices. Set in relandscaped grounds on a corner site.