Tower Buildings And Station Chambers

WIGAN

SD5805SW WALLGATE 24-1/8/102 (West side) Nos.62-78 (Even) Tower Buildings and Station Chambers

GV II

Commercial building, shops with offices over (part now Masonic Hall). 1898, by Bradshaw and Gass of Bolton; altered. Brick faced with red terracotta tiles and dressings, 2-span slate roof. Rectangular plan incorporating 7 units at right-angles to street, plus wagon entry to left. Free Baroque style. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attic, 8 bays; with plain pilasters and very large double-voluted consoles to cornice over ground floor, semi-octagonal shafts and tourelles framing each bay of upper floors and finished with Indian-style open-work finial hoods (perhaps ventilators). The 6th bay has a large doorway with a very elaborate segmental-pedimented canopy on exceptionally large foliated consoles, panelled double doors and a plain semicircular fanlight; above this, a square 4-stage turret with paired superimposed pilasters, and a dentilled cornice (former dome now missing). Otherwise, the ground floor has an original double-fronted shop window to the left of the doorway in this bay, and similar shop windows in the 5th and 8th bays (other shop fronts altered). On the upper floors the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th bays have shallow canted oriels with elaborately foliated terracotta panels between floors and Jacobean balustrades above; the 2nd, 5th and 7th bays have bowed 3-light windows at 1st floor with similar balustrades (mostly missing from the 2nd and 7th), and arcaded 3-light windows at 2nd floor with vase balustrades above. All these windows have panelled pilasters and moulded wooden transoms. Tall panelled and cornice chimneys. Rear: staggered stair windows with stained glass; 3 bridges linking 1st floor with parallel service range. INTERIOR not inspected. Forms group with No.80 (The Swan and Railway Public House, qv) adjoining to left.

Listing NGR: SD5810705466