Listing Text

WIGAN

SD5805NW LIBRARY STREET
24-1/7/29 (North East side)
11/07/83 No.16
Prudential Assurance Building

GV II

Insurance company office. Dated 1905 over 2nd floor; by
Heaton, Ralph and Heaton. Red brick with matching terracotta
dressings, roof concealed but probably slate. Rectangular plan
at right-angles to street. Flemish Transitional style.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and 4 windows; facing of square terracotta
tiles to ground floor which has moulded cornice with trefoil
arcading interrupted by corbels of 1st-floor oriel windows;
moulded cornices to both upper floors, that to 2nd floor with
egg-and-dart enrichment; coupled Dutch gables to centre bays
and balustraded parapets to outer bays. The ground floor has
the entrance to the left, by a semi-elliptical headed archway
with moulded surround including flowers, and an Art Nouveau
name plaque above ("PRUDENTIAL / ASSURANCE / BUILDINGS" on
shield with foliated surround), opening into a recessed porch
which has a mosaic tiled floor lettered "PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE
COMPANY" and a canted doorway to the right with moulded
terracotta architrave (originally dark green glazed
terracotta, but now painted stone colour) including a bold
cornice with a cartouche lettered "P.A.Co.Ltd", and
egg-and-dart frieze, and a keyed oculus above; and to the
right, an arcade of 4 tall semi-elliptical arched windows with
terracotta cusping and linked hood-moulds with finials
extended up to hatched shields under the cornice. The 1st
floor has canted oriels with parapets lettered "A.1905.D"; and
the 2nd floor has shorter windows with unusual zig-zag
moulding to the heads. Tall corniced side-wall chimneys.
INTERIOR not inspected.

Listing NGR: SD5829005612