| Description | Two former wool warehouses, located close to the Cloth Hall. According to map evidence the earliest warehouse (No.13) dates to c.1797 1825, whilst deposited architect’s plans in 1872 show that the newer warehouse (No.15) was purpose designed to act as both warehouse and showroom for an established manufacturer of woollen goods.
The oldest building is built of local materials in a vernacular style, distinguished by the use of dressed ashlar sandstone jambs, sills, and lintel, flush with the elevation. Although the evidence of internal straight joints and the removed internal walls is confusing, the cellar arrangement suggests that the building was originally built to an ‘L’ plan, encompassing a small courtyard opening off Chancery Lane. No. 15 was built for Charles Hirst in the early 1870s, and its frontage was decorated in restrained gothic style. The infill structure was designed to make maximum use of a cramped urban site and suggests that by this time the need for extra space superceded the original need for a courtyard and cart access. It was built during the early 20th century and provided office space to serve the warehouse.
ARCUS were commissioned in March 2006, by Brantwood Design and Build, to undertake archaeological building recording of the two wool warehouses. The recording revealed evidence that the older warehouse had originally faced a courtyard, with cart access at the rear, and had been heightened by two storeys. Later alterations included internal re working and the addition of an infill structure in the courtyard to provide office premises.
(Text edited from ARCUS, 2006) |