55 and 57 Westgate Road

One house. Now shops and offices. Circa 1750. Sandstone ashlar; slate roof,
graduated over 4 left bays. Ashlar and brick chimneys. 3 storeys and attics; 2:3:2
bays. Central door in Jacobean style doorcase with keyed arch under segmental
pediment. Rusticated pilasters to 3 ground-floor bays at left; alterations at right.
Inserted shops. Giant pilasters above define groups. Architraves and aprons to sashes
with glazing bars; floor bands between pilasters. Pilaster capitals at window head
level; top entablature with coved frieze. Roof has 2 small segmental-headed dormers,
with sashes at centre and left; renewed dormer with barge-boarded gable at right.
Interior shows rococo plaster to front ground-floor room, now shop at No. 57, with
phoenix motif on wall. Staircase with strap-work and plain panels, and portrait
profiles in oval medallions. Venetian window on half-landing with Doric entablature.
Putti and garlands above. Italian signature and date scratched on 1 pane,preserved
under glass, 1796. Shallow, panelled dome above. Eagle in medallion under balcony,
garlands over doors. 3 connecting rooms, 2-, 5-and 2-bay on 1st floor. All with
plaster panels and decorative cornices. Centre room elaborate ceiling with centre-
piece of putti with cornucopia on clouds and portrait medallions around. Corner
fireplace with decorative panel above. Alcove with bucranium motif and garlands.
Doorway with flat pediment and carved, pulvinated frieze. 1 side room has flower
and leaf pattern on ceiling. Wrought iron staircase and balcony railings probably
contemporary with plaster work. LISTED GRADE 2*