48 The Ropewalk

Detached house c1828-29. Now subdivided and converted for use as offices and flats. One of a group of houses on The Ropewalk which were amongst the first to be built in The Park c1828-34. Formerly gardens, the site had prominent views over Nottingham Terrace, (now named Park Terrace), and across The Park. The 4th Duke of Newcastle had grand aesthetic aspirations for a select ‘residential plan’ in The Park and by identifying these plots and commencing building work he aggravated local feelings concerned at impending loss of The Park as an area of common recreational use. Two storeys plus basement. Rendered facades. Plain tile roof with gables and gabled dormers. Numerous 19c, 20c and 21c alterations and extensions partly obscuring form of original house. Projecting gabled bays on road front with later flat roof infill extensions. Variety of window openings and types. Two storey rectangular window bay to left with mullioned windows and inset quatrefoil ornamentation to parapet. Stone surrounds and moulded sills to some door and windows, elsewhere mainly splay reveals. On main front to Park Terrace, two storey side extension to left and two storey gabled extension to right. Also later single storey canted and rectangular window bays with ornamentation at parapet level. Variety of door and window styles and types. Mainly painted plain stucco facades with roughcast finish to one gabled dormer. Access via external staircase to basement area at same level as The Ropewalk. Large original garden area now converted for use as car parking and linked with other car parking areas in former gardens of adjacent houses at nos. 44 and 52.