York Historic Environment Record

YORK SE6051NW CLIFFORD STREET 1112-1/28/177 (East side) 24/06/83 Nos.19 AND 21 GV II Offices. No.19 dated 1883; No.21 dated 1887; later alterations. MATERIALS: front of red brick, rear of pink and grey mottled brick, both in Flemish bond, with terracotta dressings; shopfronts of painted stone and cast-iron to No.19, and timber to No.21. Wrought-iron balcony on brackets to first floor of No.19. Elaborate brick cornice stacks to slate mansard roof. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attic; 2-window front to No.19, 3-window front to No.21. No.19 has shopfront of Composite pilasters with sunk panels filled with foliate mouldings, beneath broad frieze and dentilled cornice on block consoles, crowned with semicircular gablets. At left end is ornate panelled door and radial-glazed fanlight in enriched semicircular arch with heavily moulded keyblock, on scrolled brackets. Above door is a frieze panel containing a low relief cartouche incorporating the initials IR, between putti holding swags. To right of door are shallow canted bay windows on each side of centre window, probably altered from shop door, all framed in twisted Ionic columns of painted cast-iron; windows have small pane glazing, the outer ones with transom lights with crossed glazing bars, centre one with radial glazed fanlight. First and second floors bordered with two tiers of fluted pilaster strips. On first floor, window to right is inserted canted bay with margin-glazed centre sash; to left, 2-light casement in keyed elliptical arch on moulded console imposts, continued as fluted impost string across the front. Dentilled cornice above. On second floor, tripartite window to right, with 4-pane centre sash, and 4-pane sash to left, over moulded sill band on fluted block brackets. Fluted continuous lintel forms architrave to eaves entablature with frieze of garlanded panels and dentilled cornice on grooved consoles, terminating in spherical urns with finials. Right end frieze panel contains date. Attic has two dormer windows with 4-pane sashes beneath semicircular pediments filled with flutes radiating from shells. No.21 has shopfront of part fluted, part panelled Composite pilasters on tall pedestals, with sunk panel frieze and dentilled cornice on grooved brackets. Elliptical central arch with grooved keyblock contains recessed replacement door approached by steps; to left, similar arch on corbels closed by iron gate. Ground floor windows are of 3 lights with small-pane glazing and timber mullions and transoms, over ironwork grilles of similar design as the gate. Upper floors bordered by two tiers of sunk panel pilasters. On first floor, 2-light centre window has pedimented surround of sunk panel Composite pilasters with panelled frieze and bracketed cornice: pediment tympanum contains moulded date cartouche surrounded by foliage trails. Outer windows are 3-light canted bays with elliptical arched heads on moulded imposts, beneath dentilled cornice continued as band across the front. On second floor, centre window is flanked by pilasters, the outer ones by panels of low relief flower mouldings. Windows are 2-light casements over moulded sill band, beneath keyed elliptical arches linked by dentilled impost band. Window heads break into frieze of moulded swagged panels, beneath cornice similar to that of No.19. Attic centre window is of paired round-headed lights, in pedimented surround with obelisk finial and moulded cartouche and foliage trails in tympanum. On each side are inserted 4-light, flat-topped dormers. INTERIOR: of No.19. Half-panelled lobby door with margin glazing in glazed and panelled screen. Outer lobby, entrance hall and stairhall panelled in painted cast-iron strips with fluted skirting; dado of rinceaux with flowers; sunk panel pilaster strips with panelled shafts enriched with foliate trails and enriched Composite capitals, on tall pedestals moulded with figures in high relief representing the Seasons; frieze of arabesques with flowers and blank cartouches; high relief lion masks mark intersection of pilasters and dado strips. Flat stairhall arch on Composite pilasters with moulded shafts incorporating a variety of forms including foliage, cornucopias, herms, and ribbons; capitals enriched with lion masks, shells and palm leaves. Close string staircase with turned balusters, moulded handrail and turned newel with brass finial. Heavily moulded plaster ceiling to all parts, including underside of stairs. INTERIOR: of No.21 not inspected. Listing NGR: SE6037751559