The Francis Wilmer McAulay Memorial Cottages comprise a long single story, south facing building with attics which is subdivided into the seven dwellings. The building faces south on a two acre plot of land with frontage onto the road. At the rear of the property is a stand alone boiler house that was built at the same time as the main building.
However, the building is far from simply functional and comprises a wide range of interesting architectural features. The architect C H James had a significant reputation and the resulting memorial cottages featured in a number of architectural publications in the years after they were built.
They were formally listed as Grade 2 in 1988.
Features
The building is externally faced with Daneshill bricks and has Ancaster stone dressings.
The roof is covered with pantiles of a special local type which were fired at the kilnworks in nearby Barton-on-Humber.
Sash windows with solid shutters were installed rather than a cottage style casement window as was common on almshouses of this era.
Each cottage was paneled inside with British Columbian pine which was stained a different colour in each cottage.
Ironwork in the fanlight and the guard rails were all made by a local blacksmith.
A teacher from a local art school carved the cartouche, rosettes and consoles on the main doorway as well as lettering around a central window.
The front door was made from a solid piece of mahogany.
At the rear is a Doric style colonnade and covered walkway joining the houses.
The Front Door
This main door in the centre of the property entered into what was the original caretakers house and offices. It is itself a key architectural feature and was featured heavily in publications.
This main door has a high central gable in a “Dutch” style and the stonework, engraving and ironwork railings are all of note.
The garden doorway entrance into the original common room at the end of the block also got its own mention in architectural publications (east end)
The Pump and Tool House
This separate building sits to the rear of the property and was designed by the same Architect and constructed at the same time as the main building.
Inscription
As a reminder of the purpose of the buildings, there is a carved inscription above the main door referring to Francis Willmer McAulay. This was carved by a teacher at the local Arts College.
IN MEMORY OF
FRANCIS WILLIAM MCAULAY
CAPTAIN R.F.A. T.F.
WHO FELL IN ACTION
AT FONQUEVILLIERS FRANCE
ON MAY 21ST 1916 AGED 25
Go to an overview of everything about the building
Learn how the cottages were commissioned and built
Explore the architectural details and read about the Grade 2 listing
Find out how the cottages have changed and evolved
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