Scheme B, 154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire · 2009-06-30 · Castle Hill (where a putative medieval castle has been sought but not yet located), the site environs are not noted

Scheme B, 154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire

Historic Building Appraisal

For Mr Kashif Ahmed

by Steve Ford

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code

154CSR07/68

August 2007

1

Summary

Site name: 154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire Grid reference: SU 7187 7300 Site activity: Building Recording Date and duration of project: June-August 2007 Site Supervisor: Steve Ford Site code: 154CSR07/68 Summary of results: The project recorded the east wing of an 18th-century coaching inn which has been extended and later modified latterly for office accommodation. Four proposed schemes for redevelopment are assessed for their respective impacts on the historic fabric of the structure. Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Berkshire Sites and Monuments Record in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Preston 16.08.07

1

154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire Historic Building Appraisal

by Steve Ford

Report 07/68b

Introduction

This report documents the results of a building appraisal at 154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire (SU 7187

7300) which comprises the eastern wing of a group of buildings (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr

Mark Groom of The Keen Partnership, The Courtyard, Edinburgh Road, Reading RG30 2UA on behalf of Mr

Kashif Ahmed.

A Listed Building consent is being sought to convert this Grade II* Listed Building into self-contained flats

or a mixture of office/commercial and residential units. Several alternative schemes have been prepared for

consideration. This assessment has been carried out in order to evaluate one of the proposed conversions

(Scheme B) with a view to minimizing the final impact on the important features of the historic fabric of the

building.

This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Planning and

the Historic Environment (PPG15 1994), and the policies of the Reading Local Plan. The fieldwork was

undertaken by Steve Ford between June and August 2007 and the site code is 154CSR 07/68.

The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited

with Berkshire Sites and Monuments Record and a copy of the report sent to the National Monuments Record in

due course.

Location, topography and geology

The site lies just beyond the western margins of Reading town centre on the sloping side of the Kennet Valley

just below the summit of the ridge top on Castle Hill (Fig. 1). The site lies at approximately 55m above

Ordnance Datum, on Reading Beds (BGS 1946).

Historical and Archaeological Background

The site lies beyond the historic (medieval) core of Reading but on a major road, the A4, the main route from

Bath to London (Astill 1978). It also lies beyond what is considered to be the extent of the town in early post

medieval times. Apart from being located near to the line of the civil war earthworks (Slade 2001) and also on

2

Castle Hill (where a putative medieval castle has been sought but not yet located), the site environs are not noted

for their presence of archaeological deposits.

Map regression

The earliest map examined with sufficient detail to show the likely presence of individual structures is that of

John Rocque of 1761 (not illustrated). At that time an L-shaped structure is depicted for the environs of the site

but with the eastern wing (i.e., what will become number 154) not yet constructed. The map by Coates (1802),

however, shows the site with the main features of the group of buildings in place, which is labelled as the Kings

Arms Inn, and including number 154 (Fig. 2). The listing description (Appendix 2) notes that the earlier parts of

the building group are present by 1734 with the study building present before 1796 when it is documented as

being used by 200 exiled French priests.

Coates’s map shows the study property as having an integral extension to the north and this is also present

on Dormer’s map of 1832 (Fig. 3). However, by 1900, this extension has been partly removed and replaced by a

smaller extension and a separate structure has been erected to the rear (Fig. 4). The current layout includes an

additional mid- 20th century rear extension (Fig. 5) [Plate 5].

Methodology

The building survey was carried out in accordance with guidelines set out by the Royal Commission on Historic

Monuments (England) for a level 2 record (RCHME 1996; EH 2006). The survey comprised three components:

a short desk-based study examining historical maps and previous studies, a photographic survey of standing

building elements of historical interest that are proposed to be demolished or altered by the development, and

summary analysis of the structure using the architect’s plans of the site as a base.

The report highlights what is important about the historic fabric of the building with regard to any proposed

works and these elements are described paying attention to the methods of construction, chronological

development and alterations. The structure has been recorded photographically on 35mm format using colour

print, colour slide and black and white media, which are catalogued in Appendix 1.

Description

The property comprises the eastern wing of a group of buildings on three sides of a court. It has three floors and

a basement. Due to the slope of the hill, the basement is partly exposed on the eastern side with its own external

access.

3

Exterior description

The front

The front facing Castle Street is bowed with painted brickwork and a stone balustrade on the 2nd floor [Plate 1].

The brickwork where exposed is all of Flemish bond The hipped mansard roof is of tarred tile. There is a

chimney stack at the centre of the building. The main entrance is on the west side via a porch. The front of the

basement is illuminated by a single plain sash window which lies within a light well formed by the curving steps

from the eastern yard up to the ground floor main entrance (Fig. 6). The ground floor and first floor bowed fronts

both have three sash windows with no external traces of further window openings, whereas such recesses are

present within the interior (Fig. 6). The windows have in-situ interior shutters. The second floor front is straight-

fronted with window access onto the balcony terrace. There are two plain sash windows.

The eastern side

The eastern side is of plain brickwork showing several alterations [Plates 3-4]. An external chimney stack is on

the east side and has been extended to the north with a single added stack and with the top of the combined stack

having been rebuilt.

The basement is accessed by a modern door which is narrower than the above segmental arch recess. There

is some hint of alteration in the immediately surrounding brickwork but it is unclear if this represents repair or a

later insertion of the door as a whole. There are four basement windows; two towards the south are plain whereas

the third is larger and segmentally arched similar to the doorway suggesting that both are later insertions. A

fourth (northern) window is also plain. A second doorway within the original structure accesses a boiler

house/store and another door accesses toilets in the 20th-century extension.

The ground floor contains three windows, one of which appears to comprise a partial reopening of a

previously blocked window opening. The two other windows are sash types with interior shutters in-situ. The

first floor contains just one window but with three blocked window recesses [Plate 4]. The second floor contains

a single dormer window.

The western side

This side of the structure is largely formed by the adjacent building and the entrance porch [Plate 2]. However a

second floor window is present within the mansard roof and two first floor windows are present.

4

The rear

The building has been extended at the rear partly to all three storeys without basement in the late 19th century

and a basement and ground floor extension in the mid 20th century. A rear entrance is present in the older

(western) extension [Plate 5].

The interior

The basement

The basement comprises four rooms and a lobby for the external entrance. The central room contains access to

the basement stairs. Most of the features in the basement are plain but are now substantially overlain and hidden

by modern office décor including modern board panelling. The floor is solid. The store room to the west contains

an arched recess on the western wall which corresponds with the presence of a basement in the adjacent property

(158) (K. Ahmed pers. comm.) and may once have been interconnecting. The east and bowed front contain five

plain sash windows.

Ground floor

The ground floor comprises five main rooms and entrance foyer, kitchen and toilets. The front three rooms are

subdivisions of a larger room by board and glass panel partitions. The front room has five ‘window’ recesses in

the bowed front but only three are occupied by windows. There is no obvious blocking of earlier windows in the

outside front wall and these two extra recesses with arched tops may be decorative. The recesses and zones

beneath the windows have board in front of the brickwork. The three windows have in-situ shutters with window

seats. There is a dado, picture rail and moulded cornice on the eastern wall.

The northern wall has four door openings. This wall includes two columns with a large arch between [Plate

9]. The columns and arches are visible on either side of the wall but the wall forming the foyer is asymmetric

with respect to this arch suggesting that it is a later addition or that the columns were intended only to be visible

from the main front (south) room. However, the lack of cornice and dado rail for all of this foyer wall in the

middle room suggests it is at least in part a later addition. A plain wooden surround fireplace is present on the

eastern wall with boarded-up front.

The middle room is accessed off the front room and rear room. The fireplace for the central chimney stack

is highly decorated cast iron surround with tiles and in-situ grate. Cupboard space is built into the recess to the

west of the chimney stack. A dado rail and cornice are present on the eastern and northern walls chimney stack

and a part of the western wall. The room is illuminated by two windows in the eastern wall and a high level

internal window in the foyer (western) wall. One of the eastern wall windows occupies the partially blocked

5

recess and comprises a horizontal hinged window with iron stops and is a later insertion. The other window is an

original opening with sash window and internal shutters.

The rear room is accessed from the middle room and a doorway to the basement stairwell. The northern

wall is angled and is a relatively recent (20th century) construction which has breached the original rear wall of

the building to provide access to the kitchen in the extension. Cupboard space above the angled wall has

revealed the presence of original cornice on the western wall [Plate 7]. This is of particular significance with

regards to the chronology of the basement stairwell (discussed below). The western wall forming the side of the

basement stairwell is a partition which is awkwardly sited relative to the chimney stack and fireplace suggesting

a later addition. The fireplace on the central chimney stack is boarded up but contains an original cast iron grate

behind. The room is illuminated by a window in the eastern wall which is a sash window with original internal

shutters in-situ. A high level internal window in the western wall illuminates the basement stairwell. There is

cornice around the eastern southern and northern walls.

First floor

The first floor comprises three rooms with kitchen/toilets and two entrance foyers on the western side. The front

room includes five ‘window’ recesses in the bowed front but with only three occupied by windows [Plate 10].

As noted above, there is no obvious blocking of windows in the outside front wall and these two extra recesses

may be decorative. The recesses and zones beneath the windows have board in front of the brickwork. The three

windows have in-situ shutters and decorated frames. There is a dado rail decorated in similar style around all of

the room. A fourth sash window is located on the western wall. The room is accessed by two original doorways,

with the eastern one now blocked with board. Both doorways are highly ornate with Adam-type friezes above

[Plate 11]. The room also has highly ornate plaster cornice on the west, north and east sides but this stops short

of the bow front [Plate 12]. The cornice in the bow front is plain plaster. This, and the boarding in the window

recesses suggests some refurbishment to front of the room, perhaps with the removal of an internal partition and

enlargement. A marble surround fireplace is present on the eastern wall with board up front.

The middle room is accessed off the foyer via a second foyer. This second foyer is constructed of a modern

partition with modern doors and includes a breach in an east-west wall adjacent to the chimney stack. The

position of the foyer sits awkwardly with relation to the chimney stack and is not an original feature. The

fireplace for the central chimney stack is highly decorated cast iron surround with tiles and in-situ grate. A dado

rail and cornice are present on the eastern and southern walls and chimney stack. The room is illuminated by a

sash window in the eastern wall. A previous second window opening obvious from the outside seems to be

indicated internally only by joins in dado rail, cornice and plasterboard.

6

The rear room is accessed off the new foyer with an original entrance directly from the stairs now blocked

but with the original door in-situ. The fireplace for the central chimney stack is highly decorated cast iron

surround with tiles and in-situ grate. A dado rail and cornice are present on the eastern and southern walls and

chimney stack. The room is illuminated by two sash windows in the northern wall. Two previous window

openings are visible on the eastern wall from the outside only.

The entrance foyer is accessed from the stairs by a modern style fire door. It is illuminated by a horizontal

hinged window with wooden stops. Although the window is square-topped, the recess is arched. The wall is

plaster covered in plain style.

The rear (northern) toilets and kitchen block lie within the rear extension and are accessed off the stairwell

landing.

Second floor

The second floor comprises two rooms and a small kitchen area located partly within the sloping roof space. The

entrance doors are all modern fire resistant/security doors. The kitchen area is made of up of partition walls and

is a relatively modern construction as its door lies partly across the blocked fireplace. The front is now occupied

by one large L-shaped room on two levels with pillars down the centre supporting beams [Plate 14]. The change

in level corresponds with the position of an internal wall on the floors and basement beneath. The pillars and

beams are encased by board. All of the walls are plain and the ceiling is of modern office type soundproof board

tiles. The two front windows are plain sash types as are the western and eastern (dormer) window though the

latter has a more extensive plain wooden surround that may be a part of the original structure.

The rear room has also been refurbished in modern office style. The north facing window is a sash type

with decorated wooden casement and is likely to be an original feature. There is a dado rail which is also likely

to be an original feature.

Access to the rear extension is provided by a modern doorway off the second floor half-landing.

Staircases

The main staircase lies on the western side of the structure and accesses both the first and second floors [Plate

13]. It is a dog-leg type with half-landing. It is an original feature of the structure, with plain newel posts and

simple turned balusters. Some of the balusters and part of the closed string have been replaced but in a similar

style to the original. The wall-side of the stairs is presented with a moulded false handrail and skirting board that

are original features. The treads and risers are newly covered so it was not possible to ascertain if they are

original underneath. The first half-landing has an infilled recess on the party wall with number 156. It is likely to

be a blocked doorway.

7

A second straight-flight staircase provides internal access to the basement [Plate 6]. This staircase is

probably a later addition to the structure, perhaps taking place in the late 19th century when the cartographic

study shows other modifications with replacement of an earlier extension. As detailed above, in the basement

there is an arched recess on the western wall which corresponds with the presence of a basement in the adjacent

property which is possibly the original access point when the new wing (the study building) was added. The

staircase is also separated from the rear ground floor room by a partition with cupboard space above [Plate 7].

Behind this cupboard space is cornice which presumably relates to the décor of the original larger room. The

position of the staircase and this partition also appears awkwardly sited relative to the chimney stack and

fireplace in the rear ground floor room [Plate 8]. If the basement stairs were integral with the main structure it

would seem more appropriate to site these beneath the main staircase.

The Proposed Conversion Schemes

For all of the proposed schemes, the overriding design issue with respect to the historic structure has been to

minimize /eliminate changes which impact on the historic fabric (Fig. 8).

Scheme B

The basement

The original basement features are largely plain and are now substantially overlain and hidden by modern office

décor. Most of the conversion involves removal of existing partitions and construction of new internal partitions,

none of which have any impact on the historic fabric of the structure. The basement stairs will be blocked off but

not removed. An internal wall currently dividing the store room from the basement will require formation of a

new internal doorway and the existing external door to the storeroom removed and replaced by a window. The

existing door and frame are of modern type and of no intrinsic historic value. It is also not sited in a prominent

position despite its location on the outside of the building. As it has been recorded in plan and by photograph,

this appears to reflect a minor alteration without major significance. Similarly the opening of the new doorway

whilst affecting some of the historic fabric seems of relatively minor significance.

The most significant issue for this scheme is the construction of two new window openings in the front of

the basement. The rationale for this requirement is to make the basement more habitable. This desire does

require a significant change to the frontage of the building,. However, from a visual/cosmetic point of view,

neither the current front basement window nor the new windows will be visible from the street frontage, nor

even from relatively close to the structure itself. The desire only involves the removal of plain brickwork.

8

Ground floor

The ground floor contains a variety of important historic fittings as briefly summarized above. This scheme

involves removal of some modern partitions. At the front (south), the modern glazed partitions to be removed are

a very modern insertion and have no historic significance. At the rear, it is proposed to remove a partition which

defines the stairwell to the basement. It has been considered (above) that this stairwell is not a part of the original

(1790s) structure but has been inserted subsequently, perhaps in the 1890s when various extension modifications

to the rear were taking place. It is then proposed to put a new floor above the staircase thus putting it out of use

but not removing it. It would, therefore, be preserved in-situ. It is considered that as the partition to be removed

reflects a secondary development of the structure and has been recorded in plan and by photograph, this removal

is small and acceptable loss.

Erection of a new partition to form a passage way if raised to full ceiling height will require care during

construction and shaped to leave in-situ any cornice. Care must also be take to leave in-situ the highly decorated

doorway (to be blocked) between the front and middle room on the eastern side. Drainage for bathroom and

kitchen area will involve the laying of service pipes to connect with existing services presumably below

floorboard. It is possible that these can follow existing service runs or the channels between joists and that

damage to the original fabric minimized.

Conversion of the rear extensions is of no historic significance.

First floor

The first floor contains a variety of important historic fittings as summarized above. This scheme proposes

removal of a single internal board partition with modern door which currently forms a lobby at the top of the

stairs. This feature is not part of the original fabric of the structure. The scheme involves erection of an internal

partition to form a new bathroom which will have no impact on the main historic fabric of the structure.

However as above, care will need to be taken to ensure that the partition to screen the kitchen area from the door

if raised to full ceiling height is carefully shaped to leave in-situ the ornate cornice. The partition for the new

bathroom will need similar shaping to preserve the existing cornice. Drainage for bathroom and kitchen area

will involve the laying of service pipes to connect with existing services presumably below floorboard. It is

possible that these can follow existing service runs or the channels between joists and that damage to the original

fabric can be minimized.

Second floor

Most of the second floor comprises relatively modern refurbishment with the insertion of modern partitions.

Only one requirement affects the historic fabric of the structure; that of a breach through an internal wall

9

adjacent to the chimney stack. This seems a relatively slight and minor alteration. The erection of internal

partitions are superficial and insertion of bathroom facilities can mostly utilize existing service connections.

Staircases

No change is planned to the main staircase. The basement staircase is to be retained but is to be boarded over at

ground floor level and blocked at basement level. These changes retain the historic integrity of the structure.

Conclusion

In summary, this appraisal has considered the fabric and decoration of this listed structure and attempted where

possible, to identify original features, differentiate these from subsequent but relatively old changes, and identify

those of modern date. This information has been input into the design stage of the proposed refurbishment

schemes so as to remove or minimize the effects of the proposals on the historic fabric. It is felt that this has,

largely been successful. Where removals are to take place, these are largely confined to modern partitions.

Where new partitions are to be constructed, these are to avoid or incorporate decorative elements such as original

ornate cornices or dado rails. The blocking of some doorways and the overboarding of the basement staircase

would not lead to their removal and they would, therefore be preserved in-situ.

The single most significant issue is the insertion of new windows in the bow front of the basement. In itself,

the removal of original brickwork is of little consequence and the insertion of new windows has to be set in the

context of a ‘living building’ where original windows have been blocked, reopened partially, and with new

insertions elsewhere. Yet the two new windows on the bow front of the building can be considered as a

potentially significant effect on the outward appearance of the structure. However, the proposal is to retain the

essential symmetry of the windows already present in the above ground and first floors of the bow. Their

location in the basement necessarily leads to their partial obscuring by the access ramp and their visibility from

locations other than the immediately adjacent path is restricted. It is felt that the incorporation of the new

windows does not detract from the outward appearance of the structure and could well be considered to be an

enhancement.

To conclude, it is suggested that this proposal to modify the structure for use as modern residences or

business premises will only necessitate minimal damage to some of the original fabric of the structure. It is

suggested that the proposed changes are of minor historic significance to the development of the structure and

that this document and accompanying archive will provide an adequate record of the structure prior to these

proposed changes.

10

References

Astill, G G, 1978, Historic towns in Berkshire; an archaeological appraisal, Berkshire Archaeol Comm Publ 2 Reading

EH, 2006, Understanding Historic Buildings, English Heritage, London BGS, 1946, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 268, Drift Edition, Keyworth PPG 15, 1994, Planning and the Historic Environment, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 15,

HMSO RCHME, 1996, Recording Historic Buildings: A descriptive Specification (Third Edition), Royal Commission

on the Historical Monuments of England, London Slade, C, 2001, The town of Reading and its Abbey, Reading

11

APPENDIX 1: Photographic Catalogue A. Colour prints

No. Description 1 Exterior, front, looking north [Plate 1] 2 Exterior, front entrance, looking north 3 Exterior, west side with no 156, looking north east [Plate 2] 4 Exterior, front and east side, looking north west 5 Exterior, lower east side, looking west [Plate 3] 6 Exterior, chimney stack east side, looking west 7 Exterior, front, second floor balustrade, looking north west 8 Exterior, upper east side, second floor window, looking west [Plate 4] 9 Exterior, lower east side, looking west 10 Exterior, upper east side, looking west 11 Exterior, upper east side, extensions, looking south west 12 Exterior, rear extensions , looking south [Plate 5] 13 Basement staircase, looking up to south 14 Basement front room, looking east 15 Basement front room, looking south 16 Basement entrance foyer, looking south 17 Basement middle room, looking south east 18 Basement storeroom (west), looking south 19 Cupboard space beneath main staircase, looking south 20 Basement staircase, looking down to south [Plate 6] 21 Ground floor rear extension doorways, looking north west 22 Ground floor rear extension looking north

23 Cupboard space beneath main staircase, looking west 24 Cupboard space beneath main staircase, looking south 25 Main staircase architrave and blocked doorway to number 156, looking up to north 26 Ground floor rear room, original cornice in cupboard space, looking north west [Plate 7] 27 Ground floor rear room, original cornice in cupboard space, looking west 28 Ground floor rear room, shuttered window, looking east 29 Ground floor rear room, shuttered window, looking east 30 Ground floor rear room, original grate in locked fireplace, looking south 31 Ground floor rear room basement stairwell partition, looking north [Plate 8] 32 Ground floor rear room, doorways, looking north west 33 Ground floor middle room, shuttered window, looking east 34 Ground floor middle room, hinged window, looking east 35 Ground floor middle room, doorways, column and arch, looking south 36 Ground floor middle room fireplace, looking north 37 Ground floor middle room, looking south 38 Ground floor, front room (east side), column and arch, looking north [Plate 9] 39 Ground floor front room, (east side), looking south 40 Ground floor front room, (east side) fireplace (blocked), looking east 41 Ground floor, front room (east side), column and arch, looking north 42 Ground floor, front room (west side), detail of modern board blocking recess, looking west 43 Ground floor, front room (south side), window with shuttering and seat, looking south 44 Ground floor, front room (south side), window with shuttering, and recess, looking south west 45 Ground floor, front room (south side), windows with shuttering, looking south 46 Ground floor, front room (west side), column and arch, looking north 47 Ground floor, front room (west side), glass partition , looking south 48 First floor front room, looking south [Plate 10] 49 First floor front room, looking east 50 First floor front room, looking west 51 First floor front room, fireplace looking east 52 First floor front room, eastern doorway looking north 53 First floor front room, western doorway looking north [Plate 11] 54 First floor front room, detail of cornice (end), looking west [Plate 12] 55 First floor front room, detail of cornice looking east 56 First floor front room, detail of cornice above fireplace looking east 57 First floor front room detail of cornice (end) looking east 58 First floor front room, window base and dado rail looking south 59 First floor front room, window looking south 60 First floor front room, window base and dado rail looking south 61 First floor front room, window detail looking south 62 First floor front room, detail of skirting board and dado rail, looking north west 63 First floor foyer, looking south 64 First floor foyer window, detail of arched recess, looking west 65 First floor foyer window, looking west 66 First floor foyer, looking south 67 First floor middle room, fireplace, looking north 68 First floor middle room, fireplace and partition , looking north east 69 First floor middle room, window, looking east 70 First floor middle room, blocked doorway , looking south 71 First floor rear room, looking south 72 First floor rear room, fireplace, looking south 73 First floor rear room, looking south west

12

No. Description 74 First floor rear room, windows, looking north 75 First floor rear room, detail of window, looking north 76 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking down to south [Plate 13] 77 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking down to south 78 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking up to north 79 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, door to modern extension, looking north 80 Main staircase, first floor half-landing, looking down to south 81 Main staircase, first floor half-landing, looking up to south 82 Main staircase and passage ground floor, looking north 83 Ground floor entrance foyer looking south 84 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, detail of molding looking west 85 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking up to south 86 Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking down to south west 87 Main staircase, second floor, looking down to north 88 Second floor, stairwell ceiling looking north 89 Main staircase, second floor, looking down to north 90 Second floor, rear room window, looking north 91 Second floor, rear room window detail, looking north west 92 Second floor, front room kitchen, looking east 93 Second floor, front room blocked fireplace and kitchen, looking north east 94 Second floor, front room, looking north 95 Second floor, front room windows, looking south 96 Second floor, front room, window looking east 97 Second floor, front room, looking west 98 Second floor, front room, looking east 99 Second floor, front room, looking south [Plate 14]

B. Colour Slides

No. Description 1 Exterior, front, looking north west 2 Exterior, front, looking north west 3 Exterior, front, looking north 4 Exterior, front entrance, looking north 5 Exterior, west side detail with no 156, looking north east 6 Exterior, west side with no 156, looking north east 7 Exterior, west side detail with no 156, looking north east 8 Exterior, front and east side, looking north west 9 Exterior, lower east side, looking west

10 Exterior, chimney stack east side, looking west 11 Exterior, chimney stack upper east side, looking west 12 Exterior, front, second floor balustrade, looking north west 13 Exterior, chimney stack upper east side, looking north west 14 Exterior, upper east side, second floor window, looking west 15 Exterior, upper east side, second floor window, looking west 16 Exterior, upper east side, first floor window, looking west 17 Exterior, lower east side, basement entrance, looking west 18 Exterior, upper east side, chimney stack, looking south west 19 Exterior, lower east side, looking west 20 Exterior, lower east side, looking west 21 Exterior, lower east side rear extensions, looking west 22 Exterior, upper east side, looking west 23 Exterior, upper east side, extensions, looking south west 24 Exterior, lower east side, extensions, looking south west 25 Exterior, rear extensions , looking south 26 Exterior, lower, rear extensions , looking south 27 Exterior, south side, first floor windows, looking south 28 Exterior, south side, second floor window, looking south 29 Exterior, east side utility room door, looking west 30 Exterior, east side utility room door, looking west 31 Basement, rear room, looking north 32 Basement, store room (west), looking south 33 Basement, store room (west) and blocked entrance, looking north 34 Basement, entrance door, looking north east 35 Basement, front room, looking west 36 Basement, front room , looking south 37 Basement, rear room, looking east 38 Basement, rear room, looking north west 39 Basement, middle room, looking west 40 Basement, stairs, looking down to north 41 Ground floor rear foyer, looking east 42 Ground floor, rear extension bathroom, looking north 43 Ground floor, cupboard beneath main stairs, looking south 44 Ground floor, cupboard beneath main stairs, looking south 45 Ground floor, rear room window and shutter, looking north

13

No. Description 46 Ground floor, cupboard above basement stairs showing original coving, looking west 47 Ground floor, cupboard above basement stairs showing original coving, looking west 48 Ground floor, rear room fireplace detail, looking south 49 Ground floor, rear room fireplace, looking south 50 Ground floor, rear room , looking south east 51 Ground floor, rear room , looking north west 52 Ground floor, middle room fireplace, looking north 53 Ground floor, middle room , looking west 54 Ground floor, middle room , looking south 55 Ground floor, middle room , looking east 56 Ground floor, front room, looking north 57 Ground floor, front room fireplace, looking east 58 Ground floor, front room bow window and shutter, looking south west 59 Ground floor, front room bow windows, looking south west 60 Ground floor, front room bow window recess , looking south east 61 Ground floor, front room (west side), detail of modern board blocking recess, looking west 62 Ground floor, front room (west side), window recess, looking west 63 Ground floor, front room , modern glass partition, looking north 64 Ground floor, entrance foyer with column, looking south 65 First floor, middle room fireplace, looking north 66 First floor, middle room, looking west 67 First floor, middle room, looking south east 68 First floor, foyer, looking south west 69 First floor, foyer window, looking west 70 First floor, foyer, looking north 71 First floor, front room bow window, looking south 72 First floor, front room bow, looking south 73 First floor, front room bow, detail of cornice looking south west 74 First floor, front room bow, looking south 75 First floor, front room bow , looking south east 76 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking east 77 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking north 78 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking west 79 First floor, front room window, looking west 80 First floor, front room detail of ornate doorway (west), looking north 81 First floor, front room detail of ornate doorway (east), looking north 82 First floor, front room detail of fireplace, looking east 83 First floor, front room, looking north west 84 First floor, front room, looking north east 85 First floor, front room, looking east 86 First floor, front room, looking south 87 Second floor, front room, blocked fireplace, looking north east 88 Ground floor, staircase, looking down to south east 89 Second floor, staircase, looking up to south east 90 Second floor, staircase, looking down to north west 91 Second floor rear room, looking north east 92 Second floor, rear room, looking north 93 Roof space, looking south 94 Second floor, front room, looking north 95 Second floor, front room bow windows, looking south 96 Second floor, front room, looking west 97 Second floor, front room, looking east 98 Second floor, front room, looking south

C. Monochrome Images

No. Description 1 Exterior, basement bow front window and light well, looking north 2 Exterior, west side, looking north east 3 Exterior, west side and no 156, looking north east 4 Exterior, west side detail with no 156, looking north east 5 Exterior, entrance, looking north 6 Exterior, bow front, looking north 7 Exterior, upper bow front and east side, looking north west 8 Exterior, lower bow front and east side, looking north east 9 Exterior, bow front and east side, looking north east

10 Exterior, lower east side, looking north east 11 Exterior, bow front ground floor window, looking west 12 Exterior, bow front first floor window, looking west 13 Exterior, bow second floor balcony and balustrade, looking west 14 Exterior, east side basement window, looking west 15 Exterior, east side external chimney stack, looking south west 16 Exterior, east side lower basement door and windows, looking south west 17 Exterior, lower north side extensions, looking south

14

No. Description 18 Exterior, upper north side extensions, looking south 19 Exterior, north side extensions, looking south west 20 Exterior, upper north side extensions, looking south west 21 Exterior, lower north side extension, looking west 22 Exterior, east side first floor window, looking west 23 Exterior, east side second floor blocked windows, looking west 24 Exterior, east side upper, looking west 25 Exterior, east side lower, looking west 26 Exterior, east side first floor window, looking west 27 Exterior, east side lower, looking west 28 Exterior, east side upper, looking west 29 Exterior, east side lower, looking west 30 Exterior, east side lower, looking west 31 Exterior, east side upper second floor window, looking north west 32 Exterior, east side chimney stack top, looking west 33 Exterior, east side chimney stack, looking west 34 Basement storeroom (west), looking south 35 Basement storeroom (west), showing recess/blocked doorway, looking north 36 Basement front room, looking south 37 Basement front room, looking east 38 Basement entrance foyer, looking south 39 Basement rear room, looking west 40 Basement rear room, looking north 41 Basement rear room window, looking east 42 Basement staircase, looking up to south 43 Basement middle room, looking west 44 Basement middle room, looking north east 45 Ground floor staircase, looking up to north west 46 First floor staircase, looking down to south 47 First floor, rear room, looking south west 48 First floor, rear room, looking south 49 First floor, rear room, looking north 50 First floor, rear room fireplace, looking south 51 First floor, middle room, looking south west 52 First floor, middle room, looking south east 53 First floor, foyer window, looking south west 54 First floor, foyer, looking north 55 First floor, front room, looking north west 56 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking east 57 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking north east 58 First floor, front room detail of cornice, looking east 59 First floor, front room bow window, looking south 60 First floor, front room bow window, looking south 61 First floor, front room bow windows, looking south 62 First floor, front room door (west) with ornate frieze, looking north 63 First floor, front room door (east) with ornate frieze, looking north 64 First floor, fireplace, looking east 65 First floor, front room, looking north west 66 First floor, front room door looking east 67 First floor, front room looking south 68 Roof space 69 Ground floor, rear passage/foyer, looking north 70 Ground floor, rear foyer, looking north east 71 Ground floor, basement stairs, looking down to south 72 Ground floor, rear bathroom, looking north 73 Ground floor, cupboard under main staircase, looking west 74 Ground floor, cupboard under main staircase, looking south 75 Ground floor, main staircase looking west 76 Ground floor, main staircase, looking up to north 77 Ground floor foyer, looking south 78 Ground floor rear room window and shutter, looking east 79 Ground floor rear room fireplace, looking south 80 Ground floor rear room cupboard above basement stairwell, looking north west 81 Ground floor rear room cupboard above basement stairwell showing original coving, looking north west 82 Ground floor rear room, looking south 83 Ground floor rear room, looking north west 84 Ground floor rear room window, looking east 85 Ground floor rear room window, looking south east 86 Ground floor middle room, looking south 87 Ground floor middle room fireplace, looking north 88 Ground floor middle room, looking north 89 Ground floor front room fireplace, looking east 90 Ground floor front doorway (east), looking north 91 Ground floor front room bow window and shutter, looking east 92 Ground floor front room bow window and recess, looking south west 93 Ground floor front room bow window and recess, looking south east 94 Ground floor front room glass partition, looking south east

15

No. Description 95 Ground floor front room recess, looking south west 96 Ground floor front room window recess showing modern board infill, looking west 97 Ground floor front room detail of column (upper), looking north 98 Ground floor front room, looking north 99 Ground floor rear bathroom, looking north 100 Ground floor staircase, looking up to north 101 Ground floor rear passage/foyer, looking north 102 Ground floor staircase landing, looking down to south 103 Ground floor staircase landing, looking up to south 104 Ground floor staircase landing, looking north

Appendix 2: Listing Description

154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire, 2007Historic Building Appraisal

Figure 1. Location of site within Reading and Berkshire.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey SU 77 SWScale: 1:5000.

73000

SU71000

SITE

CSR07/68

SITE


Figure 2. Coates 1802.

SITE

CSR07/68


Figure 3. Dormer 1834.

SITE

CSR07/68


Figure 4. Ordnance Survey 2nd edition 1900.

SITE

CSR07/68


Figure 5. Basement and ground floor plans (current).

CSR07/68

Scale 1:100

pillar

partition

original cornicein cuboardabove stairs

Extesnion(newer)

high window in original recess

pillar

recess (blockeddoor?)


Figure 6. First and second floor plans (current).

CSR07/68

Scale 1:100

extension(older)

ornate cornice ends

Decoratedfrieze abovedoors

recessblockeddoor?)


Figure 7. External elevations (current).

CSR07/68

Scale 1:100


Figure 8. Proposal Scheme B.

CSR07/68

Not to scale

Plate 1. Exterior front looking north.

Plate 2. exterior, west (with no.156), loooking north-east

154CSR07/68

Plate 3. Exterior, east side looking west.

Plate 4. Exterior, upper east side 2nd floor window, looking west

154CSR07/68

Plate 5. Rear extensions looknig south.

Plate 6. Basement staircase looking down to south

154CSR07/68

Plate 7. Ground floor rear room. Original cornice in cuboard above basement stairwell, looking north west

Plate 8. Ground floor rear room. Basement stairwell partition, looking south-west.

154CSR07/68

Plate 9. Ground floor, front room, west side, column, looking north.

Plate 10. First floor, front room, looking south.

154CSR07/68

Plate 12. First floor, front room, ornate cornice west wall, looking west.

154CSR07/68

Plate 11. First floor, front room, west door with decorated frieze, looking north.

Plate 14. Second floor, front room, looking south.

154CSR07/68

Plate 13. Main staircase, second floor half-landing, looking down to south.

Scheme B, 154 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire · 2009-06-30 · Castle Hill (where a putative medieval castle has been sought but not yet located), the site environs are not noted

Documents