Details
GLOUCESTER
SO8318SW SOUTHGATE STREET
844-1/12/261 (West side)
23/01/52 Nos.36 AND 38
Robert Raikes' House
(Formerly Listed as:
SOUTHGATE STREET
(West side)
Nos.36 AND 38)
GV II*
Merchant's house, later shop and dwelling, now shop (No.36)
and public house (The Golden Cross, No.38). Mid to late C16
with substantial early C18 addition at rear and internal
alterations; C19 and C20 alterations. Timber frame with wattle
and daub panels, brick, slate roof, two brick stacks with
octagonal shafts.
PLAN: a block comprising two, lateral, timber-framed ranges of
three bays with a third, parallel range and a cross wing both
in brick added at rear in early C18, the northern bay
converted to shop and dwelling and the central and southern
bays converted to public house with staff accommodation in the
upper floors.
EXTERIOR: three storeys, attic and cellars; on the front three
cross-gabled bays jettied at first, second and attic-floor
levels; on the ground floor a late C20 shop-front to No.36, a
mid C20 front to the bar-room of the public house has large
windows with glazing bars between the timber storey posts.
The upper floors a good example of West Country decorative
timber-framing: a similar pattern to both upper floors, in
each bay divided into three by secondary posts and into three
horizontal zones of small panels, with ogee braces in the
lower panels, quadrant braces in the angles of the
intermediate panels and plain upper panels; in each of the
attic cross-gables a lower zone of small panels with quadrant
braces in the angles. The framing pattern, probably painted,
is repeated on the return end walls of the range at
second-floor level. The first-floor jetty is supported by
consoles and the second and attic floors by curved knee braces
off the storey posts with moulded bressumers above. The gables
have scalloped and pierced barge boards and turned spike
finials. On both of the upper floors in each end bay a central
C19 horned sash and in the central bay a similar sash to
either side of central panels of framing; in each gable a
small pair of casements above the zone of panels.
Rear elevation of two storeys and attic; four bays with a
single bay return end to right; raised band at first-floor
level and crowning modillion cornice. Doorway in second bay
from left in a former window opening; replacement early C19
sashes to ground floor with slender glazing bars (3x4 panes)
and original sashes to first floor with thick glazing bars
(3x5 panes); four gabled roof dormers each with a pair of
casements.
INTERIOR: ground floor of No.38 mostly opened throughout for
public house bar; exposed beams and joists supported by posts
with some reused timbers; within the central bay behind the
front range early C18 open well staircase with quarter
landings, altered in early C19, with stick balustrade, but
retaining early C18 raised and fielded dado panels; at the
first-floor landing at the head of the stairs a two-bay
timber screen with arches on pilasters to each side, but the
original central column removed. Room with bed alcove in the
early C18 range has original moulded cornice, part of fielded
panel dado, and full-height panelling with moulded frames on
one wall, other rooms in C18 range believed to have similar
details. Within the central C16 range exposed timber-framing
in several walls, and early inserted C18 features including a
stone chimney-piece with an eared architrave surround. In each
of the principal rooms on the upper floors of the front range
a projecting brick chimney breast with a wide, stone-framed
fireplace with moulded jambs and shallow Tudor-arched head;
several chamfered bridging beams.
In No.36 on the north side a circular stair with a timber
newel post and timber treads. Double purlin roof above the
front range, and a raised cruck roof above the C18 rear range,
possibly an earlier frame reused. In cellar the walls partly
of rubble, otherwise brick, and with brick barrel vaults.
HISTORY: The Gloucester Journal was first published from 36/38
Southgate Street by Robert Raikes Senior on 9th April, 1722.
Raikes moved his printing office here in 1758, transferring it
from Blackfriars. A notable example of a later C16 town house,
with ornamental panelling in the West Midlands carpentry
tradition.
Scheduled Ancient Monument.
(BOE: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale and the Forest of
Dean: London: 1976-: 251).
Listing NGR: SO8306918463
