Spectacle Houses in Grimby’s Abbey Road
Spectacle Row on abbey Road in Grimsby
A quick trip into one of the most historic parts of Grimsby and a look at the marvellous ‘Spectacle Houses’
The Abbey Road and Abbey Park area of Grimsby in Lincolnshire is in a very historic spot, the name of course coming from Wellow Abbey, and has always been a highly regarded area.
There are a lot of large period homes, many now converted to commercial use, but there’s two rows of houses which are of particular interest in terms of design.
They are known locally as Spectacle Houses and the collective as Spectacle Row and, I think Clarence Terrace (We have Frank Broadhead listed as having lived at 10 Clarence Terrace) - here’s what they look like. . .
You’ll see immediately why they have that name, the round glass window, or dormers, on the roof.
The whole area is a preservation area although these houses are not specifically listed, there are restrictions as to what can be done to their appearance though.
The houses were, according to the local council preservation order, built in 1871 and are described as being two storeys high with red brickwork, bay windows.
The roofs are of blue slate with ‘Lunette Windows’ and cornice gutters with modillions.
Walking down Wellowgate to Abbey Road you can see the signs of what the area must once have looked like and once again what the town has failed to cherish.
The area is a mix of grandeur and sad decline. Many of the largest properties in Abbey Road have been turned over to commercial use, some no longer even wanted for that.
That area of Grimsby has the potential to look like some of the most expensive parts of London, from huge detached mansions, elaborate terrace rows, like above, and some nice little cottage style houses. We really have lost a lot in Grimsby and some of what has survived we’ve contaminated with inappropriate buildings or allowed usage.
It really is a cracking area and deserving of a bit of TLC and appreciation.
All the best,
Rod
Little Brother said,
February 17, 2013 @ 8:01 am
Rod,
Talk about showing two opposing sides to a town. Wonder what they fetch now?
Rod said,
February 17, 2013 @ 8:18 am
LB,
not cheap I suspect. Unusually initial searches didn’t throw loads of ‘for sale’ spammy websites up like property searches normally do so I suspect they rarely come up for sale
Best
Rod
minnie said,
February 17, 2013 @ 10:31 am
I used to know somebody who lived in one of these, the spectacle window at the top was in what would have been the maids quarters. The maid that had lived in at my friends address must have been a very heavy smoker judging by the hundreds of empty woodbines packets we found when clearing the attic room!
The bell system in the house was a work of art and had been powered at some time by something very similar to a Daniell cell battery . I think I still have the drained battery in the garage somewhere.
v said,
February 17, 2013 @ 11:25 am
The only golden nugget here that I found was that in 1881 there was a Swedish baron Carl August Wilhelm Akerkielm living in number 9 with his Grimsby born wife, Sarah . Classy or what …..
Rod said,
February 17, 2013 @ 7:02 pm
V,
A Swedish Baron - now that is a nugget, how fantastic is that, and it’s so 1800s,
Love it, V
Best
Rod
veronica said,
February 17, 2013 @ 7:27 pm
Rod ,
even more fantastic dearest ….. the Swedish baron has a wife born in Gt Grimsby ! Baroness ‘Grimsby’
Rod said,
February 17, 2013 @ 9:10 pm
Baroness Grimsby
Remember the Baronet of Grimsby
http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/simon-marsden-photographer-rip-an-appreciation-obituary
Delivery Boy said,
March 7, 2013 @ 7:37 am
As a school boy in the 1950’s I used to work for Mayfield Dairy in Wellowgate and my deliveries included several of the Spectacle houses. One in particular that I enjoyed going to was 75 Abbey road which was occupied by an elderly couple Mr and Mrs Wintringham. They were a delightful couple and always invited me in and have a chat. The house was beautiful with lots of antique furnishings which suited the house.
I believe Mr Wintringham had been a colonel in the army but the Wintringham family had many business interests in the town. It is sad to to think that such magnificient homes are being allowed to deteriorate. I looked at purchasing a semidetached house in Abbey Road in 1971 but decided against it as the adjoining semi had already been converted into four flats and double yellow lines prevented parking in front of it I think the house number was 103 and it made the news in 1972 when an unexploded bomb was found by the new owner whilst building a garage along side of the house. I also used to make deliveries to houses in Abbey Park Road and occasionally to the Abbey which was used by the RAF association
Rod said,
March 7, 2013 @ 7:44 am
DB,
that’s a great comment, just the sort of thing I love, many thanks indeed and welcome to the site
All the best
Rod
Jayne said,
April 10, 2013 @ 8:55 pm
I’ve just move into number 51 and although it is converted into 2 flats it’s lovely , has most of the original features and was just curious for any info About this place as i believe the area has to great stories to tell. Thanks jayne
History Hunter said,
April 11, 2013 @ 12:47 am
Rod, sssssssshhhhhhhh…….. don’t mention the supernatural occurrences when you reply to Jayne. I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.
Rod said,
April 11, 2013 @ 8:05 am
Jayne,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - hopefully if anybody knows anything new they’ll leave a comment.
Regrards,
Rod