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Detached irregular-plan former bridewell, built 1812-16 and enlarged 1849-50. Closed 1878 and used as military officers' residence until 1919, private dwelling until 1976 and private dwelling and guest house since. Comprises three-storey south-west block having four-bay ground floor and two-bay ends with four-stage round tower projecting from south corner, two-storey over basement north-east block at right angles to south-east block, projecting by one bay and having two-bay south-east gable and three-bay long sides, and lower north-west block. Curtain walling to north and west forming former bridewell exercise yards, polygonal towers at north and south-west angles and possibly earlier round tower to north-west angle. Two-storey accommodation formed at north-west stretch of north yard, having inserted openings. Pitched slate roof to north-east block, roof of other blocks not visible, with cast-iron rainwater goods. Crenellations to towers, parapets and curtain walls. Cut limestone copings and eaves course to north-east block. South-west block has moulded corbel tabling, and machicolation and roughly dressed chimneystack to south-east elevation. South-west block and its tower have snecked roughly dressed rubble limestone walls with cut-stone string courses and battered rock-faced limestone base. North-east block has rubble limestone walls to north-east elevation and rendered to south-east, with dressed limestone quoins to corners having panel detail to projecting cut limestone tops, and carved limestone plaque with shield to upper south-east gable with label moulding. Curtain walls are rubble limestone. Square-headed window openings to south-east and north-east blocks, with chamfered surrounds except for top floor of south-east block, with label-mouldings, render to latter and cut limestone to first floor. Replacement aluminium and uPVC windows. Round-headed narrow lights to top stage of tower of south-east block, arrow slits and some blind windows with label-mouldings to other towers. Pointed arch main entrance opening to south-east elevation of south-east block, with cut limestone hood-moulding, chamfered surround, replacement aluminium door and stone steps. D-shaped random rubble stone-walled enclosure surrounding complex, having crenellated Tudor-arch gateway at south angle, with dressed limestone voussoirs and recent decorative wrought-iron gates. Set in landscaped surroundings on height overlooking town.
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