| Description | This is a large purpose built club situated on the corner of Kirkgate that was built in 1877 by Lockwood and Mawson. It is three storeys tall with an attic, and is built of sandstone ashlar, with a fine quality of masonry and Gothic and Romanesque details. It has a steep pitched roof, a plinth, a second floor sill course and machicollated eaves. There is a Romanesque shafted portal to Piece Hall Yard, with a foliate carved cornice and a balustrade over. There is also an ornate lantern, with three tall narrow round headed stair lights grouped and stepped above. The building has gabled dormers and large gargoyles to the corniced eaves. The Kirkgate front has modern shops on the ground floor (English Heritage, 1983). The first floor has five grouped, narrow, round headed windows lighting the club dining room. The range to Piece Hall Yard is extended in sandstone ‘brick’ with ashlar dressings and has a large brick bay window on the first floor. Inside the main block, the stairwell has granite columns with cast iron brackets rising to support the first floor landing. There are cast iron banisters to the staircase. |