| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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