Exterior
Large U-shaped asylum building in well-considered Tudorbethan style. Of limestone ashlar with bathstone dressings and slate roofs; 2-stage grouped chimneys, some with octagonal stacks. The principal (entrance) front faces NE. This has 15 windows grouped as 5 bays of 3 windows each, the central and outer bays advanced; all save the central, entrance bay is of 3 storeys with the ground floor raised above a basement.
The central bay is of 2 storeys, with a double-height upper floor. A wide flight of modern steps (encasing stone) rises to the entrance which is contained within a full-height projecting porch with surmounting shaped gable. The steps are surmounted by a cast iron Gothic balustrade, probably contemporary, with conjoined quatrefoil oculi, scroll-work and spiral newels. Tudor-arched entrance with moulded, returned label and delicately-carved, foliated spandrels; vertically-panelled double doors. Above the entrance is a framed rectangular recess with a relief-carved scroll inscribed: `Anno Domin(i) MDCCCXXXXVIII.' Tall mullioned and transomed window of 9 lights to the upper porch, with hearaldic carved group in the gable apex. Flanking the porch are 3-light transmullioned windows to each floor, those to the upper floor taller and with returned, moulded labels. The central bay has a pierced occular parapet with square finials corbelled-out at the corners, a feature repeated on the gable; geometric finials to all apexes, some lost. Rising up behind the central bay is a large square clock tower with shaped gables and surmounting octagonal cupola; clock face to the front gable with blind oculi within square frames to the remainder. Labelled cross-windows and stringcourses as before. The recessed flanking bays have central shaped gables and slightly smaller outer gables of triangular form, coped and finialled as before. The ground and first floors have central 3-light and outer 2-light transmullioned windows, with cross-windows to the central bays of the second floor and tall single-light outer windows. The advanced outer bays are marginally taller and are parapeted with shaped gables to the centre; these contain heraldic shields. Two-storey canted bays to the centres, with pierced lozenge parapets; cross windows throughout with single transomed lights to the bay returns. Moulded string-courses between the floors and primary small-pane glazing throughout.
Long returned wings, formerly also of 15 windows in 5 bays, and of 3 storeys. Of these the Afallon wing (SE) is largely unaltered, whilst the Ablet wing (NW) had its elevation rebuilt and extended outwards by some 2m in the later C19. The former has 4 of its 5 three-bay sections visible, the western-most having been absorbed into a link block during this later phase. Three-bay central projecting section with 2-storey canted bay and shaped gable to centre. Flanking 3-bay recessed sections with central shaped and plain flanking gables. Transmullioned windows, mostly with the mullions and transoms cut out and with 1930s steel-framed windows inserted.The outer bays have crenellated open porches to the centre, supported on octagonal stone columns. These are the remaining sections of full-length, shouldered-arched verandahs which originally ran in front of these bays (and are shown in the architect's initial proposal drawing); Tudor-arched entrances to these, with original panelled doors.The central bay of the Ablet wing belongs to Fulljames' primary phase, though the remaining bays, now advanced in front of the latter, relate to the re-fronting. These have plain gables, stringcourses and transmullioned windows.
Adjoining the main front to the L (SE) and R (NW), and advanced to its sides, are two primary walled airing courts. These are large rectangular walled enclosures having limestone rubble walls rising to an avarage of 2.2m; sloped sandstone copings stepped up over entrances to the western and inner faces, formerly gated.