Lawsons Funeral Parlour

SE 0713 OLD BANK Slaithwaite 13/347 Lawsons Funeral Parlour II Early C18 origin, largely built, 1842 in vernacular revival style. Formerly Slaithwaite Free School, now funeral parlour. Hammer dressed stone with ashlar dressings. Stone slate roof with deep ashlar parapet. Two storeys. East elevation: symmetrical 5-bay facade. The centre bay is flanked by ashlar buttresses and surmounted by small ashlar gable with carved bishops mitre and inscription 'REBUILT MDCCCXLII. Central 1st floor, 3-light oriel window with transom with symbols at base reading: 'Alpha Chi Rho, Omega', meaning 'Christ - the beginning and the end'. Below, is inscription "to whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col ii" (St Paul's Epistle to the Colossians, Chapter II, verse 3). Two cross windows to left and right, 1st floor, and 3 cross windows and 2 Tudor arched entrances to ground floor. West gable: Over door is inscription in capitals: "Slaithwaite Free School founded by the Reverend Robert Meck AD 1721 Augmented by the benefactions of Thomas Walker of Huddersfield, William Walker of Wakefield Esq and Michael Abeket of Aneley Place. AD 1731 for a school of good literature and the catechism contained in the liturgy of the Church of England". A further inscription concerns the foundation of the school dated 1842. Part of the original west wall survives arid has 3-light chamfered window, altered to ground floor. To lst floor is 3 over 5-light and 3 over 3-light double chamfered mullioned and transom windows.

Listing NGR: SE0786013963