Description

WEYMOUTH

SY6778NE JAMES STREET
873-1/23/203 (East side)
Nos.10-14 (Consecutive)
Edwards' Homes

GV II

Group of 5 almshouses. 1894, endowed by Sir Henry Edwards.
Broadmayne brick with Portland stone dressings, slate roofs
with scalloped clay ridges.
PLAN: part of a larger group which starts in Rodwell Road
(qv), this section has a T-plan block set gable-end to Rodwell
Road, with a detached pair at the far end, all in a Tudor
Revival style.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, each with 1 window under a flush face
gable. All windows are 3-light casements with stone transom
and mullions, alternating flush jamb stones and plain lintel;
those at ground floor have small labels, continued over the
doors to Nos 10 & 11; the upper lights have small-scale
diamond panes in cast-iron, and the lower lights small
rectangular panes. Above the first-floor window to No.14, and
extending above the lintel is a panel with the date 1894. The
doors, on stone steps, and paired to Nos 10 & 11, have 3 small
panels below glazed lights to 4-centred heads under a deep
transom light with diagonal panes.
A rock-faced stone plinth, with a thin stone band to the
brickwork at approx 0.6m above it, and a similar sill band at
first floor. The gables, with a blind lancet to stone sill and
head, are coped, on kneelers, and with roll-mould
saddle-stones. At each party wall and end gables are raised
coped verges, and the brick stacks have high stone cappings
with crenellations.
Above each of the doors is a Portland stone sunk panel with
the monogram EH and a lion's head, surmounted by a label with
a raised centre. Nos 10 & 11 are 3-panel doors with 3 upper
glazed panels to 4-centred heads under a deep transom light;
above these are Portland stone panels with a carved lion's
head, and EH monogram, under ogee heads. The doors to Nos 13 &
14 are in the internal angle to the short projecting wing,
with a slated porch on deep Portland stone brackets. There are
original cast-iron downpipes with square hopper-heads,
ovolo-mould gutters.
The return to Rodwell Road has a large external stack, with
stone offset at first-floor level, and a niche with decorative
terracotta tiles inset, and below a gabled 'label'; the stack
has been cropped below ridge height. To each side, at ground

floor, is a single-light window to detail as the main front.
Various rear projections, and single-light windows at each
level.
On the outer corner of the building, set on the splay, is a
large Portland stone panel, to a 'nodding-ogee' head, above a
shield with coat of arms, and 'Perseverance', inscribed: THESE
HOMES WERE ERECTED AND ENDOWED BY SIR HENRY EDWARDS.
A.D.1894.' Sir Henry was Mayor of Weymouth, MP for the
constituency, and a considerable benefactor in the town.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
These almshouses are richly detailed, and externally remain
little altered; there is a further almshouse group in similar
detail, in Rodwell Avenue (qv).

Listing NGR: SY6756478570

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26435136

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)