Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception — High Hill Street

Attached five-bay double-height single-cell Catholic church, built 1832-5; opened 1835, on a rectangular plan originally detached with single-bay three-stage engaged tower to entrance (north) front on a square plan supporting octagonal spire. Dedicated, 1856. Renovated, ----, with sanctuary reordered. Hipped and pitched slate roof behind parapet (north) with clay ridge tiles, rooflights (south), and cast-iron rainwater goods on eaves boards on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Rendered walls on chamfered cushion course on rendered base; rusticated rendered wall to entrance (north) front on cut-granite chamfered plinth with rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners supporting cut-granite cornice on blind frieze on monolithic entablature below parapet; rendered surface finish (tower) with granite ashlar piers to corners supporting cut-granite cornice on blind frieze on monolithic entablature below octagonal pinnacle-topped panelled parapet. Pointed-arch window openings with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having margins centred on leaded stained glass panels. Square-headed door openings (north) with cut-granite monolithic surrounds framing timber panelled double doors. Pointed-arch niches centred on round-headed door opening to entrance (north) front, cut-granite threshold, cut-granite doorcase with Ionic pilasters centred on Ionic columns supporting dentilated "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed cornice on pulvinated frieze on entablature framing timber panelled double doors having overpanel. Pointed-arch window openings with cut-granite sills, timber Y-mullions, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings framing fixed-pane timber fittings. Lancet openings (tower) with cut-granite sill course, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings framing louvered timber fittings. Interior including vestibule (north) with "terrazzo" floor centred on mosaic tiled roundel; square-headed door opening into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors having sidelights on panelled risers below overlight; full-height interior with choir gallery (north) on paired Composite pillars supporting timber panelled pipe organ, pair of Classical-style confessional boxes, carpeted aisles between timber pews, replacement stations between stained glass memorial windows (----), stepped dais to sanctuary (south) reordered, ----, with Classical-style reredos centred on Classical-style high altar, and moulded plasterwork cornice to coved ceiling centred on stained glass rooflight in moulded plasterwork frame. Set in landscaped grounds with cast-iron "bird cage" piers to perimeter having ball finial-topped curvilinear pyramidal capping supporting "Fleur-de-Lys"-detailed wrought iron double gates.