24 26 28, HAMILTON STREET

This is a row of three shops, built around 1840 in Birkenhead. The building is constructed with ashlar stone and has a Welsh slate roof. It is three storeys high and comprises five bays, with curved corners at each end and a two-bay return to John Street. A shop front, likely inserted in the late 19th century but subsequently modified, now runs continuously along the front. The corners have rusticated quoins, and there are piers framing segmentally-arched doorways, featuring cast-iron columns supporting the fascia. The upper windows are set within stressed architraves, embellished with bolection moulding and enriched console brackets supporting segmental pediments which have rays and foliate decoration within their tympanums. An egg-and-dart frieze runs along the eaves, and there is a modillion cornice. The second storey has mullioned and transomed windows, with casements. Keystones are above the first-floor windows in the cornerpieces, and blind balustrading sits below the second storey. A doorway on John Street features acanthus-style decoration in the upper panels. The building has moulded sills and a sill band, as well as vermiculated quoins. Axial stacks are present.