Description

TQ 3480,
22/893

PRESCOT STREET,
No. 1 and attached wall and railings

GV

II

Office block. C1932 by L G Ekins for the Co-operative Wholesale
Society. Built by the CWS Building Dept. Steel frame clad with
dark brown brick, with horizontal joints raked out; semi-basement
and entrances, concrete textured with feldspar or granite,
channelled to appear as stone. Green pantiled mansard roof with
two rows of dormers. Rectangular block on corner site. Five storeys,
two attics and semi-basement. Main facade thirteen bays plus later
addition of seven slightly projecting bays to right. Segmental
arched arcading rises from ground floor through 4th floor with
splayed reveals of bricks set at angles to give dog tooth
pattern; arch heads also of this treatment. Bronzed and green
painted metal framed windows of three lights with green metal spandrel
panels of corrugated and bead design. Main entrance on centre of
thirteen bays; rectangular surround an extension of basement textured
cement. Recessed angular mouldings to opening with bronzed iron
geometric pattern screen; above, a bas relief rectangular plaque
depicting a nude male and female; cornice of corrugated design.
Entrance approached by steps flanked by cement balustrades with
bronzed iron railings of geometric pattern with bronzed octagonal
lanterns. Fifth floor in lighter coloured brick with blue band;
continuous 3-light square headed recessed windows with brick
mullions and separated by elongated enriched brick
ornamentations. Blue and red brick corrugated parapet. Pantiled
roof with antefixae. Continuous rows of cream painted 3-light
dormers with corrugated lintels and separating panels; alternate
panels with angular cream rainwater heads and green painted pipes
forming a feature of the decoration. Left-hand angle canted with
plainer entrance; brick work at angles forms open-work pattern;
angular 2-light oriel through three floors with green painted metal
zig-zag patterned spandrel panels. Returns similar to main
facade. Attached concrete wall with piers and bronzed iron
railings of geometric pattern.

An unusual example in Britain of the German Expressionist style.
Ekins worked all his life for the CWS, designing shops and warehouses all over Britain.

Listing NGR: TQ3405680967

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26318782

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)