Building record 2853/0/55 - No.29 (Pleasant View) Park Street

Three almshouses {known as Thorpe Almshouses) and an attached house founded circa 1668 located on the north western side of Park Street, south west of Colemans Lane. The almshouses were converted into a house during the late 18th century and altered during the 20th century. The buildings are constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof and ashlar parapets and end and ridge chimney stacks. The almshouses have three window ranges of two light ovolo moulded, stone mullioned windows under hood moulds. The house attached to the right and has a two window range of casement windows on the first floor, above two canted bay windows that flank a central door. An inscribed panel originally set within the central gable was removed in 1937 and reset at Cornforth Homes in Bridge Street.

{1} 3 almshouses and attached house, now one dwelling. C.1668 founded by John Thorpe altered C20, and late C18 house. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. Originally each single-unit plans. Single storey. 3-window range of 2-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion windows with hood moulds. 2 C20 stable doors, under renewed wood lintels, between window ranges. Blocked door to far right. Chamfered plinth. Ashlar gable parapet to left and ashlar ridge and end stacks. House attached to right is a 2-window range of C20 leaded casements under wood lintels at first floor. 2 canted bays, also with C20 leaded casements, and slated roofs at ground floor. Central C20 door under wood lintel. Brick and stone stacks at ends. Interior not inspected but almshouses noted as having remains of small oven on fireplace. Central gable removed from almshouses 1937 and inscribed panel recording foundation now reset at Cornforth Homes, Bridge Street. (RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in N rth Northamptonshire: p100)

{3} Until c 1937 there was a central gable on the front elevation recording the foundation: AEDIFICAVIT CHARITAS/INHABITABIT PAUPERTAS/ORNABIT HONESTAS/DVRABIT OMNIS AETAS/EXONDO IOHANIS/THORP ARM ANO/1668. The panel was reset at the west end of the front wall and was recently reset again in the north wall of the Cornforth Homes, Bridge Street. Scratched on the door frame: EB MF 1743. The east dwelling has a wide fireplace, those in the others being later replacements

{5} Undated photo;

{6} Photo dated 12th May 1963;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 12/134 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.70 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN40683.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 100, fig 128 & plate 120 (Series). SNN77384.

<4> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.70 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN40683.

<5> Photographs of buildings in King's Cliffe (Photographs). SNN112705.

<5> Historic England, Undated, THORPE ALMSHOUSES, KINGS CLIFFE, BF084141 (Archive). SNN114410.

<6> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 11:21AM