Savoy Garage

Savoy Garage

A garage built between 1914 and 1915 by the Blackpool architectural firm TG Lumb, Son & Walton, originally constructed to serve the nearby Savoy Hydro Hotel. The building is a steel-framed structure clad with red brick and pale buff terracotta, predominantly two storeys in height, though parts rise to three storeys. The roof, originally slate-covered, has been replaced with modern concrete tiles.

The building occupies a rectangular footprint aligned north-south, fronting King George Avenue to the south, with a terrace of villas on Queen's Promenade to the west, an unnamed lane to the east, and an alleyway to the north.

The principal south elevation facing King George Avenue is the most architecturally prominent feature. Clad entirely in pale buff terracotta, it forms a gable-end with a large, shaped gable containing two wide, paired, segmental-arched openings at ground floor level. These arches incorporate arched hoodmoulds and raised voussoirs, and originally contained internal roller shutters. Flanking the gable on each side are pilaster strips with carved panels at ground floor level and raised aprons above, topped by curved pediments that rise above the roofline. At first-floor level are two large round-headed windows with hoodmoulds and keystones beneath a continuous sill band. A small keyed oculus is set into the gable apex. A later square window with a concrete lintel has been inserted into the lower left pilaster strip. A small tarmac forecourt in front of the garage contains two manhole covers providing access to a single petrol tank beneath, divided into two sections.

The east elevation comprises twelve bays featuring metal-framed nine-light windows to both floors, with two of the upper bays rising to a third storey. A doorway with a quoined surround, four-panel door, plain overlight and decorative cornice exists at ground floor level in the first bay. A large vehicular opening spanning bays four and five has been partially bricked up, with a later inserted doorway and metal grille providing access to a subsequently added stair serving the first floor. Two further large vehicular openings exist at bays nine and ten, the left one now blocked with breeze blocks.

The west elevation contains several blocked-up windows at ground floor level, though most bays retain their original metal-framed windows matching those on the east side. A shallow two-storey single-bay projection projects from the right of centre, with blocked-up openings and a doorway to its south side; its original function remains unknown, though it may have housed toilets or a stair.

The rear (north) elevation comprises three bays, with the two left bays rising to three storeys and the right bay to two storeys with a lean-to roof. A bricked-up window with its original lintel remains at ground floor of the left bay, and a doorway with a replaced door exists at the right bay.

Internally, the garage is arranged around a servicing area positioned just inside the front-left arched opening from King George Avenue. This area contains a central pit and is separated by panelled doors from the main garage body. To the left of the servicing area is a modernised two-storey (ground and mezzanine) reception and office suite with horizontal windows. A small storage basement room is accessed via a sliding door to the rear left of the servicing area.

The main garage body is entered through the front-right arched opening and features an inclined floor sloping upwards towards the rear. At the centre rear is an original vehicle lift by the Wadsworth Lift Company of Bolton, which remains fully operational with its original control mechanisms intact, including an operating handle marked 'ASCEND', 'REST' and 'DESCEND'. The lift has a timber-walled platform, no ceiling, and a metal concertina-style grille door. A large fixed turntable sits in front of the lift to the left. To the rear right of the ground floor is a large vehicle-sized recess with associated drains running to the adjacent lane, suggesting original use for vehicle washing or as a pit.

A timber stair flight with plain square newel posts, closed string and horizontal upper rail, with the upper section enclosed, ascends from the rear left of the ground floor to access the first floor. This floor is a large open space currently used for car storage and as a body shop. An area to the rear left, adjacent to the lift, has been steel-encased and converted into a spraying room. A small office and toilet have been inserted near the northern end of the first floor alongside the west wall. A later timber stair flight alongside the east wall descends to the adjacent lane. At the rear right (north-east corner) of the first floor is a staff room with a late twentieth-century kitchen and an enclosed timber stair flight accessing a disused room above.

The garage's roof incorporates a series of steel trusses and ties with boarded covering throughout.