Survey Data
Reg No
50910222
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
Shop/retail outlet
Historical Use
Office
In Use As
Shop/retail outlet
Date
1930 - 1940
Coordinates
315657, 233986
Date Recorded
16/11/2015
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Attached three-bay four-storey commercial building, built c. 1935 as middle part of cohesive block of five similarly detailed buildings, having square-headed recessed bays to middle floors, and recent shopfront to ground floor. Front (west) elevation slightly advanced from adjoining buildings and having pediment to parapet. Two-storey return to rear. Pitched roof, concealed by brick parapet inset with square recessed panels and having moulded brick and lead-lined cornice. Parapet surmounted by shallow brick gable over stepped base, with recessed apex featuring blind keyed oculus, and having gutters. Machine-made red brick walling, laid in Flemish bond, with projecting horizontally channelled brick piers to outer sides, rising to moulded stringcourses over middle floor windows (continuing across neighbouring buildings). Square-headed window openings, having brick voussoirs, brick sills to top two floors and masonry sills to first floor, and original one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows with ogee horns and largely replacement glass. Ground floor retains moulded masonry cornice of earlier shopfront.
Appraisal
This building is part of a terrace of red brick commercial units, built c. 1935 for Hipps & Co., tailors, and attributed to the designs of architect George L. O’Connor. Despite some fabric alterations the buildings survives well, particularly across the upper floors. Curiously although similar to the rest of the terrace this particular building is pedimented. It forms part of a coherent group that dominates this stretch of the street and contributes to the rich fabric of historic commercial buildings defining much of the streetscape character within this architectural conservation area.