Coops Factory

Coops Factory is a clothing factory, now used as a warehouse, built in 1871 by R Todd of Southport for Timothy Coop and James Marsden. It underwent significant additions in 1888 by Isitt and Verity, and in 1892 by W Verity. The building features yellow and red brick on a rusticated sandstone basement, with the roof likely concealed, possibly by asphalt. It is a very large rectangular block located on a corner site, designed in the Italianate style.

The factory has 4 and 6 storeys, situated on a site that slopes down from right to left. The original 1871 section on the right has 4 storeys (reduced from 5) and 5 bays. The 1888 section in the centre projects slightly and consists of 6 storeys, including a basement, with 5 and 4 bays. The 1892 section on the left is set back slightly, has 4 storeys including the basement, and features 4 bays. The original building on the right has windows on the first and second floors set in a giant pilastered arcade of round-headed arches with keystones, though the upper floors likely had similar windows, which are now missing. The subsequent sections to the left continue this design at the same horizontal level for the second and third floors, while the 1888 section repeats this treatment at the fourth and fifth floors.

All parts of the building have yellow brick pilasters and corner pilasters. The centre section features bracketed cornices and a balustraded parapet above the 4-bay portion. The basement has square-headed windows, while all other windows are segmental-headed, except those in the arcades, which are round-headed. The main entrance is located in the 4-bay portion of the centre, framed by a large round-headed archway moulded in three orders and highlighted by a feature balcony at the first-floor level. The long left return of the 1892 section features 23 bays, styled to match the front. The rear and interior of the building have not been inspected.

Historically, the factory was established to provide employment for girls who were made redundant due to the Cotton Famine of the 1860s.