| Description | 57, Northgate and 2 14, Gill's Yard. Wakefield. Timber framed building originating in the 16th century. Historically used as a furniture warehouse.
Although treated as two separate records, each with separate own English Heritage listed building designation, nos. 53 55 and no. 57 Northgate were originally different phases of a continuous building range which were investigated as part of a single building survey event (see below). See PRN 12988 for further information regarding nos. 53 55 Northgate.
'Shop with accommodation above and a former warehouse to rear now also a shop. C16, early C18, early C19 and C20. Timber framed, red brick and rock faced ashlar with render. Slate roofs. Brick gable and ridge stacks. Two bays, 3 storey. East front has C20 shop front with central doorway and above 2 C20 casements, above again 2 smaller C20 casements. Rear front to Gill's Yard. Two storey rendered with brick bands and irregular fenestration largely C20. Interior of No 57 has remains of late medieval timber framed building with a single close studded wall and extensive wall plate. The rear section to Gill's Yard was used as a furniture and upholstery warehouse by Wright and Elwick of Wakefield, the important Yorkshire furniture makers. SOURCE, the Journal of The Furniture History Society'. Vol XII: 1976'.
(English Heritage listed building description. Date listed 09/11/1990. http://list.english heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1272840. Web site accessed 25/11/2013).
The West Yorkshire Archaeology Service made a spot list request to the Department of environment with regard to nos. 53 57. At the time of the H.B.M.C Inspector’s visit, few architectural features were visible other than the fine Elizabethan ceiling dated 1596 room of no.53. An application for planning permission and listed building consent was submitted to Wakefield MDC in respect of a refurbishment scheme for shops and offices (Wakefield Council planning reference numbers 90/99/47975; A and B). WYAAS archives holds a set of architect's drawings dated to August 1990 which probably relate to this application (John R. Paley Associates. 1990). WYAS advised that the application could not be determined until the structure was better understood. As a result, WYAS officers made an almost daily supervision as the interior was gutted. A building of 'singular importance' was revealed. A full measured survey followed. The resulting report, which is held by WYAAS contains an historic building description, annotated interpretation drawings (particularly of historic decoration and the arrangement of the timber framing), and photographic images (Thornborrow, P.H. (Historic Buildings Officer. WYAS). 1990). WYAAS also holds the archive of related research material, notes and correspondence.
The part of the WYAS historic buildings survey report relating to no.57 Northgate and nos.4 14 Gill’s Yard is summarised below:
No 57 Northgate is in a completely different alignment to no.53, and yet still contains three posts and substantial remains of a close studded wall. In the north east chamber is a complete section of close studded wall in filled with stone slates, overlaid with lime plaster. There is evidence for a window, suggesting that this was originally an external wall. The timbers lean outward to the street suggesting a jettied building. In the ground floor front room was a cellar, the floor frame occupies a single bay of the structure and has chamfered oak floor joists stopped against the spine beam. The floor joist have soffits identical in construction with the floor frame to the rear range which forms the link with the adjacent warehouse. The roof truss between these to ranges has a wide spanning tie beam, a tall king post and curved principals with single angled struts. Later struts were added to offer support for a lathe and plaster wall. |