Quebec House

Quebec House is a building of four storeys with a basement and attic, dating to 1890 and designed by Chorley and Connon for the Leeds County Liberal Club. It is now offices with a basement restaurant. The building is constructed of pinkish-red brick with terracotta manufactured by JC Edwards of Ruabon, and has a slate roof and wrought-iron gates.

The building has three bays, with a semi-octagonal angle tower on the right. The front has an open first floor with Ionic columns, an arcaded third floor, and a short tiled spire topped with heavy brackets to the cornice. The ground floor features segmental-arch windows with moulded terracotta aprons, and a doorway on the left with an open segmental pediment on paired brackets, a richly ornamented tympanum bearing the name ‘LEEDS COUNTY LIBERAL CLUB’ in relief, along with spandrels and brackets. The first floor has round-arch windows supported by Ionic columns in antis, with terracotta panels in the entablature. A modillion cornice runs along the building’s line. The top two storeys and attic have a slightly recessed centre bay, with projecting outer bays featuring large Dutch gables; the brickwork is banded with terracotta. The rear has a plainer, almost semicircular bay on the right, with an elaborate five-light stained-glass window.

Inside, the entrance steps have been rebuilt. A terracotta foundation stone with a coat of arms and the motto 'PALHAM QUI MERUIT FERAT' is flanked by an inscription reading 'LAID BY/ SIR JAMES KITSON BART/ 12th MARCH 1890'. The wrought-iron gates have wavy dog bars and bars with tendrils and scrolls. The staircase hall has a wide semicircular panelled stair with square-section balusters and open-work finials; carved wooden lions hold wrought-iron lamp standards, and the landing has a moulded plaster ceiling. The staircase window, with five lights, contains stained glass depicting coats of arms of Hull, Kingston, Scarborough, Ripon and Leeds.

Sir James Kitson, an industrial magnate and Liberal Party figure who later became Baron Airedale, commissioned the building. The JC Edwards firm provided the bricks and terracotta, a bright red finish used in several city centre buildings including the Hotel Metropole.