Lawrence Buildings

Lawrence Buildings, located on Mount Street in Manchester, is a notable office building that was constructed in 1874 by architects Pennington and Bridgen. The building is designed in a Gothic style and features a rectangular plan made of sandstone ashlar with a slate roof. It stands four storeys tall with attics and has an asymmetrical five-window facade facing Mount Street, which includes a chamfered corner on the left side.

The facade is richly detailed, showcasing sill-bands, a three-sided corner with a corbel-table, tourelles, and a slated spirelet. To the right, there is a tall crocketed gable also adorned with tourelles. The central entrance is marked by a steeply-pitched canopy with a two-centred arch, flanked by altered windows. The upper floors feature one- and two-light windows with two-centred arches, cusped lights, and hoodmoulds. A niche on the second floor contains a statue under a crocketed canopy.

At the left corner, there is a two-centred arched doorway with decorative shafts, a carved surround, and a hoodmould, flanked by lions on pedestals that hold shields of arms. Above this doorway is an elaborately decorated two-storey canted oriel with a traceried corbel. The left return wall facing Central Street has a five-bay design in a similar style, complete with a central gable. The steeply-pitched roof features low box dormers and tall chimney stacks. The interior has not been inspected. Lawrence Buildings forms part of a group with St Andrew's Chambers and 20 and 21 Albert Square, sharing a similar scale and style.