Details
ST COLUMB MAJOR ST COLUMB MAJOR
SW 9063-9163
17/254 The Retreat Hospital
-
II
Workhouse, now hospital. Circa 1840, with some alterations and additions of C20.
Coursed elvan stone rubble with granite dressings. Some granite ashlar. Slate roofs
with lead rolls to hips and ridge; the roofs are hipped, with stacks with rendered
shafts.
Plan: The workhouse is arranged in 3 parallel ranges. The front range has a central
gateway, with single storey wing to each side, containing warden's accommodation and
offices. The main workhouse is the central range; this has a central polygonal
tower, with entrance hall at ground floor and kitchen wing to rear. To right and
left is a wing, containing a hall, one side for men and one for women, with a cross
wing at the end of each side, for living and sleeping accommodation. The rear range
is a long block of uncertain function, probably originally containing work rooms.
The plan is in accord with the standard functions of a C19 workhouse, with some
additions of C20 which do not obscure the original layout.
Exterior: The front range is symmetrical single storey. The entrance is in a tall
centrepiece, with pediment with large modillions, and has a round arch with voussoirs
and rusticated jambs with imposts, and a fine pair of C19 cast iron gates with knob
finials; round vault inside, with doors and windows. The wing to each side is of
2:3:2 bays, the central bays broken forward, with three 12-pane sashes with voussoirs
and keystones. Outer bays have similar 12-pane sashes. One window to left and right
replaced by C20 door. At the rear, there sre hipped dormers with 16-pane, sashes,
most ground floor windows are C20 replacements.
The main central range has a central octagonal 3-storey tower, with 6-bay wing to
right and left, and a cross wing at the end of each wing. The front centre is canted
with 1:3:1 bays, all windows are 12-pane sashes with keystones, central 4-panelled
door with overlight and cornice. The windows at second floor are round-arched sashes
with radial glazing bars. Pediment over with large modillions. Stack to right and
left and similar pediment at the sides and rear. The side wings are 2-storey, with
some original 16-pane lights remaining, with keystones at first floor, some C20
replacements. The ground floor windows are 15-pane sashes with keystones, some
replaced by half-glazed C20 doors. The cross wings each have one bay to front and
rear, with similar windows. C20 L-plan wings attached to front. The outer sides of
the cross wings have C20 replacement sashes and doors. To rear right is a single
storey porter's lodge, with 2 doors and one window; this has been raised in height,
and attached to the right-hand cross wing. The rear of the main range has the
central tower with 12-pane lights with keystones at first floqr and round arched
sashes at second floor, as on front; central window blind. Attached to rear centre
is the single storey kitchen, with raised hipped roof with a glazed clerestorey, and
C20 additions to each side. The wings to right and left have sashes at ground and
first floor as on front, with a C20 2-storey addition to right and left. Single
storey C20 addition to the cross wing to right.
The rear range is 2-storey, a nearly symmetrical front with 4 bays to centre and a
single storey 4-bay wing to right and left. The central 4 bays have single storey
canted bay to right and left with sashes, C20 door and sash between; first floor has
paired sash to right and left and 2 central sashes. One bay set back to left-and 2
to right, both 2-storey with sashes. The single storey wings to right and left have
3 small gables over tall sashes and C20 doors.
Interior: Much altered in C20 for hospital use. In the main range, the central
polygonal block has a staircase at each side; food would have been prepared in the
kitchens and brought through the entrance hall to each dining hall, with living
accommodation at the end.
Listing NGR: SW9166063776
