Listed Building: Thomas Cook Almshouses, Chapel and Railings (1096389)

'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE HIGH STREET 6/116 (South Side) Thomas Cook Almshouses, Chapel and Railings GV II Almshouses, chapel and railings. 1891 by G Burgess for Thomas Cook, the famous travel agent. Red brick with tile hanging and applied timber framing to the attics and some terracotta dressings. Steeply pitched red clay tile roof with large brick ridge stacks with semi-circular headed panels to sides, and moulded brick coped gables to caretakers house and the chapel, both of which are at the street end of the side wings. U-plan with seven bay central range and four bay side wings, three central bays of the central range advanced. Mostly single storey plus attics but with single storey chapel and two storeys plus attics to three central bays. These central bays have a Tuscan columned arcade to ground floor with four plain doorcases, two leading to an open staircases, and three small pane windows behind. Above there are three 5-light timber mullioned casement windows with central 3-lights of each canted out to form small oriels. Above again there is a jettied attic storey with applied timber framing and 5-light timber mullioned casements to each gable. Below the central window there is a moulded plaque with inscription 'Memorial House of call for Mr Cook and invited friends', and above there is a projecting pedimented clock with balusters to either side. Beyond the central bays to either side there are plain panelled doors and two 3-light small paned casements plus two gabled roof dormers over with similar windows. Beyond again there are angled segment headed doorcases with brick pilasters to each side and brick cornice above, across each corner. East wing has three similar 3-light windows to ground floor and above in gabled dormers, with two panelled doors between the northern windows. To north end, the caretakers house has advanced gabled bays to west and north, that to north with canted small paned bay window to ground floor and stone plaque above inscribed 'Memorial Cottages Caretaker No 1', also three small paned casements above, that to centre larger than the other two, set in a pilastered surround with semi-circular blind arch over the central window. North elevation has three semi-circular headed arches to ground floor with railing across, and three small paned windows above in a pilastered surround with moulded eaves cornice, topped by ball finials to the corners. Wet wing has an advanced gabled bay to north of the angled doorcase with 2-light window below and 4-light one above, also with lights to each side of the bay. Beyond to north is a double chamfered. segmental arched brick doorcase into the chapel with buttress beyond and three 4-light terracotta flat headed windows with four-centred arched lights and incised spandrels. North elevation has similar 4-light window with plaque inscribed 'General Baptist Memorial Cottages and Mission Hall. Erected by Thomas Cook, a Native of Melbourne 1890'. To centre of the chapel roof is a square tile hung bellcote with louvred top and ogival leaded roof. Between the wings there are the original railings with two sets of gates, one to either side. Listing NGR: SK3845225112.'