The Esplanade Numbers 1 to 8 and Forecourt Walls and Railings
THE ESPLANADE NUMBERS 1 TO 8 AND FORECOURT WALLS AND RAILINGS, 1-8, THE PROMENADE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1386468
- Date first listed:
- 25-Jan-1954
- List Entry Name:
- The Esplanade Numbers 1 to 8 and Forecourt Walls and Railings
- Statutory Address:
- THE ESPLANADE NUMBERS 1 TO 8 AND FORECOURT WALLS AND RAILINGS, 1-8, THE PROMENADE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-08-16
- Reference:
- IOE01/00186/20
- Rights:
- © Mr Derek Hiscock. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1386468
- Date first listed:
- 25-Jan-1954
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 09-Nov-1998
- List Entry Name:
- The Esplanade Numbers 1 to 8 and Forecourt Walls and Railings
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE ESPLANADE NUMBERS 1 TO 8 AND FORECOURT WALLS AND RAILINGS, 1-8, THE PROMENADE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE ESPLANADE NUMBERS 1 TO 8 AND FORECOURT WALLS AND RAILINGS, 1-8, THE PROMENADE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Plymouth (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SX4759453944
Details
PLYMOUTH
SX4753 THE PROMENADE, Hoe
740-1/66/301 The Esplanade Nos 1-8 (consec) and
25/01/54 forecourt walls & railings
(Formerly Listed as:
THE PROMENADE, Plymouth
The Esplanade Nos 1-8 (consec))
GV II*
Planned terrace of villas. 1836 by George Wightwick.
MATERIALS: stucco with stucco detail; dry slate mansard roofs,
except for No.3 with asbestos slate, hipped at the ends, all
behind interrupted parapet [central oval balustrade to No.1,
and to end returns] with console cornice entablature; attic
windows, some enlarged; stuccoed end and axial stacks with
plinths and plain cornices.
Palace front of Italianate influence.
PLAN: double-depth plan.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys plus attic; symmetrical
3:4:1:3:1:4:3-window front with end houses and centre pair
broken forward and the 3 central bays further broken forward
to ground and 1st floors. No.1 with original hornless sashes
with glazing bars to 2nd floor and original fanlight heads and
glazing bars to overlight above French windows to 1st floor.
Simpler similar original heads to 1st-floor windows of No.2
(also to right-hand return). Otherwise mostly later sashes and
C20 windows to No.7; French windows to ground-floor openings
and to some 1st-floor windows. Stucco detail includes:
channelled rustication to ground floor; round arched windows
with moulded pilasters and arches to 1st floor; moulded eared
architraves to 2nd floor; the principal 3-bay projections each
with 1st-floor colonnade of 3 Corinthian half columns and
moulded entablature with vases above; blind centre bays.
Bulbous-shaped wrought-iron balconies to 1st floor.
End return elevations each of 3 bays, the left-hand return
with 2-storey central oriel with quadrant corners with bowed
windows, flanking bays with blind windows, the other return
with similar detail to recessed front bays.
Rear entrance front has parapet, cornice strings; 1st-floor
windows with moulded hoods on brackets; porches with moulded
impost and parapet strings; coupled porches to centre (Nos 4
and 5); panelled doors and many original hornless sashes with
glazing bars.
INTERIOR: not inspected but likely to reflect the strong
architectural character of the exterior.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: stuccoed forecourt walls with plinth,
band and square coping. U-shaped plan. Rear forecourt walls
surmounted by original wrought-iron railings with turned
finials and stanchions with acorn finials.
A fine example of its type, distinguished by some
Neo-Classical detail to the centre and end bays, more
characteristic of Foulston than Wightwick. Part of an
important planned group of terraces and villas by Foulston and
his pupil Wightwick on the Hoe, a scheme which placed Plymouth
in the forefront of town planning in the early/mid C19.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-:
665; Colvin H: A Bibliographical Dictionary of British
Architects 1600-1840: London: 1978-: 888-890).
Listing NGR: SX4752353946
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 473855
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Colvin, H M, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (1978), 888-890
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Devon, (1989), 665
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 21-Jun-2026 at 02:00:09.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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