Sunday 20 November 2016

The Lesser Secular Monuments Survey of March 1960.



A Report - The Lesser Secular Monuments Survey of March 1960.

From 4 - 6 Wheelergate, Nottingham.
6 Yards from Friar Lane.

Built in the third quarter of the 17th Century. The building has a U shaped plan. The front range along the street measuring c. 45 ft x 18.5 ft internal, has the ground floor converted to shops. Behind two parallel wings seen to the west - lower than the front block of which the north wing has been rebuilt.

Front elevation brick with stone dressings, heavily painted or cement washed with rusticated quoins at the South end only and rising to three shaped gables with moulded copings finials missing.
Ground floor modern shop windows. First floor five windows with bolection moulded surrounds under alternate segmental and triangular pediments. Second floor five windows with moulded architraves eared at each corner under cornices.

Attic casement windows in bolection moulded surrounds with cornice over.

Back of main block has two sash windows with exposed frames and flat brick arches. The north elevation of the south wing has various hung sash windows some with exposed some with recessed frames all resashed. Timber cornice at eaves.

At the south end of the ground floor there remains a richly decorated plaster ceiling above a coved cornice enriched with swags of fruit and flowers. There is a central oval panel with four spandrel panels and three panels across each end. The spandrel panels are decorated two with urns - one with a pig (or boar) and one with a shield of arms.

The back wall of this room has been removed and replaced by 19th century paired cast iron columns with foliate capitals.

On the first floor three rooms in the front block have original enriched cornices, one a nineteenth century moulded cornice. Some of the chimney breasts are built diagonally across the corners.

Roof of front block is in five bays with cambered collars between principal rafters. Purlins two each side tenoned with principals. No ridge beam. Purlins are staggered to be clear of each other. Attic floors are plaster. South back wing has similar roof of three bays.
Condition described as fair.













My notes -

The north wing was probably rebuilt or at least reroofed after the bombing of next door in 1941.

There is no mention of a staircase but it might suggest that as in many coaching inns, there was originally an external staircase and balconies at the rear.

The Dutch style gables were a style introduced in the late 17th century after the accession to the throne of William of Orange. Once quite common in Nottingham, this important frontage was the last remaining example.

There is no mention of whether the building had been refronted.

The windows at the rear with exposed frames would suggest late 17th century - early 18th century dating before the introduction of new laws requiring the frames to be set back.


No comments:

Post a Comment