34, Darwen Street

SD 6827 796-/2/10016

BLACKBURN, FORMER C.B. DARWEN STREET No 34

II Office building, formerly the offices of the Blackburn Philanthropic Mutual Assurance Society, but possibly built as a public house (The Wheatsheef Inn) unoccupied at the time of inspection. c1850, with C20 alterations. Red brick, laid to Flemish bond with ashlar sandstone dressings, slender ridge and side wall chimneys,most with moulded stone caps, and a Welsh slated roof. Principal frontage to Darwen Street, with central doorway within stone doorcase, and semi-circular overlight with moulded stone head. Door concealed by protective cover. Flanking the doorway are wide 2-light windows, comprised of coupled sash windows with margin glazing, each with a semi-circular, brick-arched headspringing springing from a central slender shaft. The coupled lights are set within wider semi-circular arched openings in a neo-Romanesque style, beneath a hoodmould with corbel stops. Within the arch infill, a patera is set above the shaft head. Moulded string course above windows, and 3, 2-light first floor windows. The central upper window has set below it, thus truncating its height, a rectangular plaque with the inscription 'Blackburn Philanthropic Mutual Assurance Society'. Side elevation to St Peter's Street, with single light openings to the 2 eastern bays, a 2-light opening, and, at ground floor level, a wider arched opening, without an dividing pillar. Lower single bay section to west with semi-circular headed doorway and altered shop window. Interior not inspected. A little altered example of late C19 commercial architecture which demonstrates the architectural eclecticism of the period.

Listing NGR: SD6825627897