4-6 Whitefriargate, Hull

Former Smith’s bank and adjoining houses, now shops, of 1829-1830, by Charles Mountain Junior, with C20 alterations. Classical styling.

MATERIALS: brick with painted ashlar dressings, concealed roof (pitched, probably slate coverings).

PLAN: a polygonal building aligned east-west that forms the central block of a 29-bay composition comprising 1-9 Whitefriargate.

EXTERIOR: it is an 11-bay building of three storeys with pediment and balustraded parapet set on a substantial roof cornice, and concealing an eastern roof dormer, two off-set ridge stacks, and a single end ridge stack to the west. On the ground floor are two late-C20 shopfronts; the larger eastern shop with red granite and black gabbro-clad piers and a recessed entrance, and both with early-C21 alteration and an incomplete ground-floor cornice. On the floors above the five central bays are defined by giant pilasters, which rise from the first floor to the pediment; the outer pilasters are Doric, whilst the inner pilasters are Ionic with windows between. The pilasters support a pediment containing the arms of Thomas Ferres (Ferres bestowed the site upon Hull Trinity House in 1621) set within a Rococo cartouche flanked by two sea gods and other maritime references. To the centre of the re-glazed first floor are five six-over-six windows with moulded surrounds and pediments on scroll brackets. To each side are three bays; the first floor with three six-over-six sashes with cornices on consoles, and the second floor with three three-over-three sashes with brick flat arches.

Rear not inspected, information from other sources. Number 4 Whitefriargate retains eight-over-eight first- and second-floor sashes, a round-arched sashed stair window, and four-over-four third-floor sashes. Number 5 Whitefriargate has a rendered upper storey with C20 window fenestration and an emergency exit. Number 6 Whitefriargate retains a second-floor eight-over-eight sash window and third-floor four-over-four sash window.

INTERIOR: the ground floor is divided between storage and retail space with early-C20 columns in situ and a basement beneath. The upper floors are offices.