Nos 1-8 (Consecutive)

Cadw's description

Location

On corner with Skinner Street, opposite Westgate Hotel.

History

By A Swash, architect, 1892-94. The development originally consisted of the whole block (Nos 2-13 consecutive), between Skinner Street and Corn Street, but Nos 9-12 were rebuilt in the 1930s, leaving the end No 13 unaltered.

Exterior

Large commercial development in French Gothic style. Grey stone (in shallow courses), painted stone dressings, steeply pitched slate roofs with bracketed eaves. Modern shopfronts to ground floors. Three storeys plus attic. End block (No2) has steep pavilion roof with stone dormer with 2 Gothic windows; on second floor, 4 windows with Gothic heads; on first floor, broad oriel window with Gothic lights, 2 to front. Rounded corner to L has Gothic window to first and second floors; 4 window L return with dormer (as front) set across eaves; elevation continues down Skinner Street for further 4 windows, but in yellow brick
Nos. 3 to 6 (consecutive) each have Gothic oriel window to first floor, and attic dormer, on second floors, Nos. 3 and 5 have 3 windows, and 4 and 6 have 4 windows. Nos. 7 and 8 (formerly central block) have pair of steep pavilion roofs with iron cresting, each roof has Gothic dormer with 2-light Geometrical tracery; on second floor, 8 windows with T-glazing; on first floor, broad oriel window with 6 Gothic lights to front.

Reason for designation

Included for its strong High Victorian presence on Newport's main commercial street.