Quay Terrace, West Bay
Encyclopedia
The Pier Terrace in West Bay, Dorset, was designed by the English Arts and Crafts
architect
Edward Schroeder Prior
in 1884-5
Pier Terrace is one of Prior’s most important early buildings. The influence of Norman Shaw, particularly his Sisters of Bethany Convent, is still apparent in the double pitched tiled roof, stepped rhythm, tile hanging and bay windows of the terrace. However the terrace’s design had much derived from West Country vernacular architecture
by comparison to Prior’s initial unexecuted designs for cottages and an hotel at West Bay.
Prior’s interest in materials and his understanding of their use in combination with experiments in volume and massing came to the fore at West Bay, anticipating his later mature work. He used materials carefully, with bands of differing textures and materials emphasising the horizontal plain, breaking up the massive warehouse like volume of the building. The combination of experimentation with volumes, such as cutting the entrance arches out of the eastern facade and materials, the overhanging storeys, projecting eaves and bays demonstrate Prior’s interest in the play of light and his understanding of shadow.
The Great Western Railway
reached Bridport in 1857 resulting in the decline of Bridport Harbour and its renaming as West Bay. Local businessmen, including the archaeologist Augustus Pitt-Rivers and the Earl of Ilchester
, funded an extension of the line to the harbour, being the Bridport Railway which was completed by 1883. Subsequently they established the West Bay Building Company to build villas and lodging houses for visitors. Two of Prior’s cousins were on the board and it was as a consequence of this that Prior became involved, initially designing proposals for cottages, lodging houses an hotel and the “Lost Sailor” tap room, all in a Shavian idiom. However the scheme was blocked by General Pitt-Rivers who would not release the land on the East Cliff at a reasonable price. As a result proposals were drawn up for a terrace on land owned by the Harbour Commissioners.
The terrace of 10 lodging houses, providing 60 bedrooms, faces east and west. Each house had a semi-basement kitchen, scullery and living room for the landlady. The first floor held a living room and two bedrooms, with a further living room, bedroom and WC on the second floor. The attic contained one large and two small bedrooms.
The terrace was divided into three stepped blocks of four, four and two houses. The ground and first floor are constructed from Portland stone
separated by a narrow sting course. There are a series of tile-hung second floor bay windows to the west facade, with four low semi-circular arched entrances providing shared access for every pair of houses on the ground floor to the east facade. The second floor is jettied out from the first. To the western front a continuous slate hung roof overhangs the bays of the first floor; a finish also applied to the second floor wall to this facade. The eastern facade of the second floor is rough cast and overhangs the first and ground floors. The attic story is extended out over the second storey and is tile hung with small dormer windows with splayed lights tucked under the eaves of the main roof. The massive roof was tiled with Taylor’s patent red roof tiles.
The two southern houses burnt down in 1929 and were reconstructed as flats with four storey bays to the western elevation. In 1973 the next four houses were badly damaged by fire but were sympathetically restored. An extension was constructed to the north in the 1970s with vaguely sympathetic tile hanging, though the general design is not good. Some partial re-roofing has now been carried out in smaller red tiles that break up the surface effect of the roof.
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Edward Schroeder Prior
Edward Schroeder Prior
Edward Schroeder Prior was an architect who was instrumental in establishing the arts and crafts movement. He was one of the foremost theorists of the second generation of the movement, writing extensively on architecture, art, craftsmanship and the building process and subsequently influencing...
in 1884-5
Pier Terrace is one of Prior’s most important early buildings. The influence of Norman Shaw, particularly his Sisters of Bethany Convent, is still apparent in the double pitched tiled roof, stepped rhythm, tile hanging and bay windows of the terrace. However the terrace’s design had much derived from West Country vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
by comparison to Prior’s initial unexecuted designs for cottages and an hotel at West Bay.
Prior’s interest in materials and his understanding of their use in combination with experiments in volume and massing came to the fore at West Bay, anticipating his later mature work. He used materials carefully, with bands of differing textures and materials emphasising the horizontal plain, breaking up the massive warehouse like volume of the building. The combination of experimentation with volumes, such as cutting the entrance arches out of the eastern facade and materials, the overhanging storeys, projecting eaves and bays demonstrate Prior’s interest in the play of light and his understanding of shadow.
The Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
reached Bridport in 1857 resulting in the decline of Bridport Harbour and its renaming as West Bay. Local businessmen, including the archaeologist Augustus Pitt-Rivers and the Earl of Ilchester
Earl of Ilchester
Earl of Ilchester, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1756 for Stephen Fox, 1st Baron Ilchester, who had previously represented Shaftesbury in Parliament. He had already been created Baron Ilchester, of Ilchester in the County of Somerset in 1741, and Baron Ilchester and...
, funded an extension of the line to the harbour, being the Bridport Railway which was completed by 1883. Subsequently they established the West Bay Building Company to build villas and lodging houses for visitors. Two of Prior’s cousins were on the board and it was as a consequence of this that Prior became involved, initially designing proposals for cottages, lodging houses an hotel and the “Lost Sailor” tap room, all in a Shavian idiom. However the scheme was blocked by General Pitt-Rivers who would not release the land on the East Cliff at a reasonable price. As a result proposals were drawn up for a terrace on land owned by the Harbour Commissioners.
The terrace of 10 lodging houses, providing 60 bedrooms, faces east and west. Each house had a semi-basement kitchen, scullery and living room for the landlady. The first floor held a living room and two bedrooms, with a further living room, bedroom and WC on the second floor. The attic contained one large and two small bedrooms.
The terrace was divided into three stepped blocks of four, four and two houses. The ground and first floor are constructed from Portland stone
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
separated by a narrow sting course. There are a series of tile-hung second floor bay windows to the west facade, with four low semi-circular arched entrances providing shared access for every pair of houses on the ground floor to the east facade. The second floor is jettied out from the first. To the western front a continuous slate hung roof overhangs the bays of the first floor; a finish also applied to the second floor wall to this facade. The eastern facade of the second floor is rough cast and overhangs the first and ground floors. The attic story is extended out over the second storey and is tile hung with small dormer windows with splayed lights tucked under the eaves of the main roof. The massive roof was tiled with Taylor’s patent red roof tiles.
The two southern houses burnt down in 1929 and were reconstructed as flats with four storey bays to the western elevation. In 1973 the next four houses were badly damaged by fire but were sympathetically restored. An extension was constructed to the north in the 1970s with vaguely sympathetic tile hanging, though the general design is not good. Some partial re-roofing has now been carried out in smaller red tiles that break up the surface effect of the roof.