History

Built 1881. By E G Rivers, architect; builders were Kirk Randall. Originally occupied by Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade, and also by the Docks Telegraph Office.

Exterior

Italian Renaissance style, three storeys and 10 windows to main (S) elevation. Red brick with red sandstone dressings (sandstone from Shawk quarries, Cumberland), grey Penrhyn granite columns. Hipped slate roof with red sandstone chimneys. Cornice in sandstone with balustrade and central aedicule. Second floor has segmental-headed windows with sandstone architraves with keystones. Sandstone cornice at sill level. First floor windows with sandstone architraves and bracketed triangular pediments above. Ground floor faced in red sandstone. Fourth and seventh bays are round-headed doorways with panelled double doors and semi-circular fanlights over. Remaining bays are round-headed windows with keystones over and panelled aprons below. Ground floor is articualted by grey granite columns in Roman Doric style, doubled at ends of facade. Entablature supportsd balustraded parapet, rising to first floor sill level, of which central four bays break forward to form porch. Wall behind porch has granite pilasters. Centre two bays of porch project with doubled columns at ends. East return of five bays in same style but first floor windows have flat cornices rather than triangular pediments, and no balustrading below sills. Doubled granite pilasters at S end of elevation. To rear, elevation in red brick with camber-headed windows, and two storey wing with similar treatment. Facing Dock Lane (E), yard surrounded by brick wall with sandstone coping. Tall sandstone gatepiers. To N of gates, outbuilding with shaped gable and tall brick chimney.

Interior

In entrance hall to R of Portico is impressive staircase with cast iron banisters in Grecian style. Similar staircase visible through doors at entrance to L of portico.

Reasons for Listing

Numbers 1 and 3 Bute Place form excellent C19 commercial building with fine Italianate design and strong use of contrasting building materials. Group value.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29491843

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

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)