Hosiery House

Hosiery House is likely a warehouse that has been converted into clothing wholesaler's premises. It probably dates from the mid-19th century and has undergone alterations. The building is constructed of coursed squared sandstone with quoins and features a slate roof. It has a rectangular plan, three storeys and an attic, with a nine-window range. The ground floor on the west side and south end is painted white up to the first-floor sill level. The windows have raised sills and rectangular lintels, with the ground floor windows on the west side now blocked and a doorway inserted at the left end. The first and second-floor windows have altered glazing, except for the right-hand end window on the top floor, which is bricked up. There is a small chimney at the right-hand corner of the roof. The south end features a blocked segmental wagon archway with a smaller doorway inserted beneath it, a rectangular garage doorway to the right, and a loading door on the second floor above this, along with windows on three levels, including two in the attic. The rear has similar window arrangements, including blocked windows at ground level and two stair-windows.

Inside, there are three rows of slender cast-iron columns with simple cruciform pads supporting timber beams. The roof is a collar-truss design with cast-iron braces to the collars and king-posts, featuring fishbone struts, and has unusual large cast-iron braces under the ends of the principal rafters. This sturdy utilitarian building of stone stands out in a town predominantly characterized by brick architecture.