Prestige Building (1937 Range Only)

Factory. Built in 1937 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners for Burnley Corporation. The building is red brick in stretcher bond with deep bands of soldier coursing, concrete dressings (now texture-coated), metal-framed windows, and a flat roof likely covered with asphalt. It is designed in a Modernist style. The long rectangular block runs parallel to the road, with a central office block projecting forward; extensive workshops to the rear are not included.

The two-storey centre block has a 1:5:1 bay arrangement, accompanied by long, single-storey, four-window side ranges. The design is symmetrical and strongly rectilinear, featuring white concrete plinths, sillbands, and narrow, sunk friezes with simple projected cornices. The centre has a large rectangular recess with splayed concrete reveals moulded in three orders, protected by six free-standing concrete columnar lamp standards with ovolo-and-fillet moulding, topped with ovoid-shaped metal lamps and oval glazing. A large square-headed doorway incorporates glazed double doors with long, pendent brass handles and a large rectangular overlight with Art Deco curvilinear glazing bars. There is one large square-headed window in each of the other bays, with a band of soldier coursing above them. The first floor has continuous fenestration including a rippled concrete apron. The outer bays each have a two-storey window extending to the height of the recess. The "entablature" of this block is a thick sandwich of stretcher bond between bands of soldier coursing, now displaying "THE PRESTIGE GROUP PLC" in large attached lettering. The four-window side ranges are lower with wide, oblong, three-light windows featuring flat-faced concrete mullions and concrete lintels. The two-window left return is in matching style. The right-hand return has an exposed basement with a former loading bay.

Inside, the entrance hall is notable for its doglegged staircase with smooth marble walls and a brass handrail.

The factory was built by Burnley Corporation’s development committee to address the decline of the cotton industry in the town. It was designed by Wallis, Gilbert & Partners, the architects also responsible for the Firestone Factory in Brentwood and the Hoover Factory in London.