No. 79, LOWGATE

No. 79 Lowgate is a former Mason’s wine merchants’ offices and warehouse, later used as the City Record Office (which relocated in 2009). It was built in 1882, designed by Joseph Tiffen, with the top storey and corner turret added in 1908 by Brodrick, Lowther & Walker. The building was restored and converted around 1985. It is constructed of red brick with ashlar dressings and slate roofs, featuring a blue brick plinth, string courses, cornice, and blocking. The building is five storeys high, with a basement, and has a five-bay by three-bay arrangement. A rounded corner entrance bay, topped with a single-stage round tower containing a three-light window, a dentillated cornice, and a conical roof with a finial, marks the corner site. The first floor features a round-headed sash window with a pointed-arched hoodmould, above which is a moulded roundel displaying a coat of arms and the date 1881. Further up are a segment-headed two-light window and a larger two-light glazing bar window with a keystone. The ashlar entrance has Doric half-columns and pilasters leading to an entablature, with a moulded doorcase, double keystone and panelled double doors. The main front, to Lowgate, features shallow pilasters between the three central bays and the end bays. The first floor has five round-arched windows with pointed-arched hoodmoulds, followed by five traceried round windows, then five segment-headed two-light casements, and finally five two-light glazing bar casements with keystones. The ground floor showcases four windows with moulded round arches, with a former cart entrance to the left, now containing a 20th-century door and overlights. The basement has four openings with chamfered lintels and latticework grilles. The right return, to Guildhall Road, has similar fenestration with three windows on the first and second floors. The third floor features two segment-headed windows, above which are two two-light mullioned casements and a canted oriel window with four lights. The ground floor has a central segment-headed window flanked by single round-arched windows. The basement here has two openings with chamfered lintels and latticework grilles. The interior retains a stone cantilever stair with winders, along with some original glazed wooden screens and doors.