Silverwell House

Silverwell House is a house built in 1790 for John Pilkington, a cotton manufacturer. It is constructed of brick, painted to the original front elevation, with a slate roof.

The house has three storeys and a three-window front. A pedimented doorcase, now disused, centrally features an overlight with a 12-pane sash window above. Flanking this are full-height canted bays with sash windows. The rear elevation has an irregular arrangement of windows, with a main doorway to the left of centre; this features a 6-panelled door within a moulded wood architrave and a flat entablature. A secondary doorway has been inserted, accessed via a later porch to the left. Round arched stair windows are positioned above the main doorway and at an intermediate height to the staircase on the left side. The attic storey has 12-pane sash windows, while other windows are 4-pane sashes or replacements within original openings. All windows have flat arched brick heads and stone sills. A moulded eaves cornice runs along the top of the building, and there are end wall stacks.

The interior of the house has not been inspected.

In 1887, the front of the building was largely incorporated within a drill hall built for the 3rd Volunteer Brigade, Lancashire Division of the Royal Artillery. Captain Marshall Robinson designed the drill hall, and was responsible for the subsequent modifications to the house, which then became armoury, stores, canteen, lecture hall, and offices. The drill hall, then thought to be the largest covered drill shed in Britain, was extensively reconstructed in the 20th century and later demolished, with the exception of the house. In the latter half of the 20th century, the entire complex served as a sorting office and sports centre. The sports centre was demolished in the late 20th or early 21st century, leaving the house standing as offices.