Tower Garage

Tower Garage is a distinctive building of the 1930s, set back from the road with a large forecourt. It has a circular plan, centred around a rotunda topped with a saucer-shaped canopy. The garage is constructed of reinforced concrete with large glazed panels set within timber frames, and timber cladding above and below the glazing. All the timberwork is painted black. A projection to the west side has a central doorway, and original entrances with large, concertina-style, glazed timber doors are located in the north-east and south-east corners, designed to permit car movement within the showroom. The original convex glazing to the west projection has been replaced with flat panes. A massive, saucer-shaped, reinforced concrete canopy forms the roof of the rotunda, extending outwards and supported by a series of painted reinforced concrete columns inside the rotunda. The canopy is cantilevered externally. Originally, six petrol pumps stood beneath the canopy to shelter motorists, but these were removed in the late 1970s, as were a series of strip lights originally located underneath the canopy. A secondary, pitched roof, constructed of felt and wooden battens, was added in the early 21st century to prevent leaks and remains largely hidden above the canopy.

Originally, the rotunda was subdivided by partition walls, with sales and administrative offices at the front and a showroom to the rear. These internal partition walls, a sales kiosk made of teak and mahogany, toilets, and a suspended ceiling have all been removed. The original linoleum floor has been replaced with a terrazzo floor, and a modern, circular deli counter now occupies the centre of the rotunda. The ceiling contains four original circular skylights on the western side; it is believed that approximately eight skylights originally existed, with some subsequently blocked up. Group Value reflects the building’s rarity and contribution to the historic streetscape.