Institute of Guidance Counsellors — Herbert Street

Attached two-bay four-storey former house over basement, built c. 1840 as one of pair (Nos. 16-17) within longer row of similar houses, having two and three-storey hipped return with additions to north end and fire escape to south end. Now in commercial office use. M-profile roof, hipped to north end of rear, having brick parapet with masonry coping and parapet gutters. Shouldered brick chimneystacks to south. Parapet gutters, and shared cast-iron hopper and downpipe. Flemish bond red brick walling on painted granite plinth course over painted ruled-and-lined rendered basement walling; rendered to rear. Square-headed window openings, diminishing in height to upper floors, with painted masonry sills, painted rendered reveals and brick voussoirs. Timber sliding sash windows, three-over-three pane to top floor and six-over-six pane to second floor with profiled horns, and one-over-one pane to ground and first floors and basement with ogee horns. First floor openings have scalloped trim to window heads and decorative canted cast-iron balconettes; second floor has wrought-iron window-guards, and basement has wrought-iron grille. Rear has round-headed window to north bay. Round-headed principal doorway with painted moulded surround and masonry doorcase comprising pro-style Ionic columns, plain entablature, peacock's tail fanlight and six-panel timber door with beaded muntin and brass furniture. Granite entrance platform with cast-iron boot-scrape and four bull-nosed granite steps. Decorative cast-iron railings on moulded granite plinth enclosing basement area. Cast-iron gate and mild steel steps lead down to basement area. Two-storey mews building to rear of plot, extended to lane side.