Canal Warehouse

The Canal Warehouse, dated 1874, features minor 20th-century alterations. It is constructed of red-brown brick with blue brick and stone dressings, topped by a Welsh slated roof. The building is positioned along the road with canal access at the west gable end.

The south elevation has three storeys above a basement with an integral canal dock, arranged in nine bays asymmetrically around two loading bays (bays 2 and 5). These loading bays have stacked pairs of metal-sheeted doors set within a continuous recessed opening, topped by low gablets that incorporate semi-circular arches housing the hoist arm and mechanism. Each arch has a metal front cover displaying the date '1874'. The remaining seven bays feature full-height shallow recessed panels with chamfered plinths and dog-toothed heads, containing stacked window openings beneath shallow arched brick heads. Some windows are blocked, while others have 20th-century glazing. A continuous dog-toothed brick eaves course runs along the top.

The west gable includes a wide stilted archway at canal level, which is now blocked but originally provided direct access to the internal dock. Above this, there is a stacked double doorway set within a central arch-headed recess, complete with a half hemispherical canopy for the hoist. Flanking this doorway are stacked windows in shallow recesses, with some window frames still retaining glazing bars.

This warehouse is a rare example of a canal transhipment warehouse built to serve the Leeds and Liverpool canal in the late 19th century. Its architectural details reflect contemporary dock warehousing in Liverpool, and the design includes an integral canal dock, highlighting the importance of canal transportation during this period.