127-133, PORTLAND STREET

MANCHESTER

SJ8497NW PORTLAND STREET 698-1/32/316 (South East side) 03/10/74 Nos.127 TO 133 (Odd)

GV II

Various shipping warehouses, now bank (No.133) and variously occupied. 1860, by P.Nunn for Louis Behrens and Sons; altered. Some sandstone ashlar but mostly red brick with sandstone dressings (roof concealed). Irregular plan on large trapeziform corner site, with rounded corner to Oxford Street. Four storeys with basement, 23 bays plus 2-window corner, a very regular composition with strong horizontal emphasis; with stone plinth, channelled rusticated facings to piers and doorway surrounds at ground floor, moulded stone cornice over this, rusticated quoins to the corners, moulded sill-band to 3rd floor, and brick parapet with stone coping. The ground floor has 3 pairs of segmental-headed loading bay entrances with run-out voussoirs and voluted keystones, and a round-headed doorway in similar style, alternating with groups of 3 sashed windows over basement openings; and the bank at the right-hand end has a corner doorway with richly moulded surround, and coupled plate-glass windows in each side wall. The 1st and 2nd floors form a continuous arcade of giant round-headed arches with moulded imposts and keyed heads, segmental-headed sashes at 1st floor, round-headed sashes at 2nd floor, and brick panels between; the 3rd floor has pairs of small square-headed sashes. Corner and 4-bay return in matching style. Forms group with No.61 Oxford Street (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SJ8402797733