Oswaldcroft

St. Joseph's Home

front of house Oswaldcroft was the house of a Liverpool merchant called Henry Sharples. Pugin designed three domestic houses in the same vein, The Grange, Ramsgate, Kent 1843-1844, Oswaldcroft, Liverpool 1844-1847 and The Rectory, Rampisham, Dorset 1846-1847. These were houses for the middle classes, both in the country and suburban settings. They are all excellent examples of domestic architecture in Victorian times. the staircase
painted ceiling As you enter Oswaldcroft you are struck by the similiarities to The Grange. There is a staircase entrance hall, with wonderful tiles on the floor bearing the initials H S, and the family crest. The staircase bears a great resemblance to the one in The Grange. tiles showing H.Sharple's coat of arms
pugin window gardenside Hardman provided the glass, this window is downstairs in what would have been the main sitting room. He was also responsible for the metalwork. This room had a painted ceiling of great quality. stain glass window
door furniture In 1847 Crace supplied the house with four hundred and eighty five pounds worth of furniture. Pugin originally designed this house to be on an L plan, however later in 1866 Edward made alterations to it making it into an H plan house.

It was interesting to view this house and it gave an opportunity to gather restoration ideas for The Grange.

Edward's addition

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