Ashton Building

The Ashton Building, formerly the Faculty of Arts, was constructed in 1913 by the architectural firm Briggs, Wolstenholme and Thornely. This four-storey structure features brick and Portland stone and is composed of nine bays, with the end bays rising only three storeys. The central five bays project forward beneath a pediment. The ground floor is rusticated and includes a round-arched entrance and six round-arched windows. The first and second floors are adorned with giant Ionic fluted pilasters and two tiers of rectangular windows. Above these, there is a frieze with egg and dart moulding, while the top floor showcases panelled pilasters between the windows. The building is capped with a rich cornice and pediment that features a central shield, mantling, and the date of construction. The first bay includes a two-storey bow flanked by narrow windows, and the last bay has a large rusticated round-arched gateway with a mask keystone. Both end bays have a tripartite window on the second floor, complete with colonnettes, and a balustraded parapet topped with affronted sphinxes. The courtyard facade is highlighted by a central aedicule that contains a sculptured group of seated figures within the pediment.