Electricity Junction Box

The electricity junction box, dating from the early 20th century, was manufactured by Hardy and Padmore Ltd for Manchester City Council. It is made of cast iron and has a rectangular shape. The longer sides of the box are aligned parallel to Brazennose Street. At the top, it features a low pyramidal cap with castellated edges, which sits above a moulded cornice supported at each corner by inward-scrolled corbels. Each of the two longer sides serves as a door, each with a moulded surround and two decorative strap hinges on the right-hand side. Surrounding a detachable plaque that displays the crest of the City of Manchester is a Jacobean-style geometric strapwork relief. The two shorter sides are plain with moulded edges. The box is painted black, with the strapwork design highlighted in gold and the city crest depicted in full color. Although this box does not bear the manufacturer's name, it shares an identical design with other known examples by Hardy and Padmore located nearby.