Quebec House

LEEDS

SE2933SE QUEBEC STREET 714-1/77/329 (South West side) 22/03/74 No.9 Quebec House (Formerly Listed as: QUEBEC STREET No.9 National Employers House)

GV II

Leeds County Liberal Club, now offices with basement restaurant. 1890. By Chorley and Connon. Pinkish red brick; terracotta made by the firm of JC Edwards, Ruabon; slate roof, wrought-iron gates. 4 storeys with basement and attic, 3 bays with semi-octagonal angle tower on right: open 1st floor with Ionic columns, arcaded 3rd floor and short tiled spire with heavy brackets to cornice. Quebec Street frontage: ground-floor segmental-arch windows with moulded terracotta apron panels and arched doorway left with open segmental pediment on paired brackets, richly ornamented tympanum, the name 'LEEDS COUNTY LIBERAL CLUB' moulded in relief, spandrels and brackets. 1st floor: round-arch windows and Ionic columns in antis supporting entablature, the apron panels, bases of column shafts and frieze in the entablature all have richly-moulded terracotta panels. Modillion cornice. Top 2 storeys and attics: the centre bay is slightly recessed; outer bays project slightly with large Dutch gables; panels of brick banded with terracotta. Rear: plainer, almost semicircular bay right with elaborate 5-light stained-glass window. INTERIOR: entrance steps rebuilt; flanking terracotta foundation stone with coat of arms and motto, 'PALHAM QUI MERUIT FERAT' and inscription: 'LAID BY/ SIR JAMES KITSON BART/ 12th MARCH 1890'. Art Nouveau inspired 2-leaf wrought-iron gates have wavy dog bars, bars with tendrils and scrolls. Staircase hall has a wide semicircular panelled stair with square-section balusters and open-work finials; carved wooden lions hold wrought-iron lamp standards. Moulded plaster ceiling to landing. The staircase window of 5 lights has stained glass depicting town coats of arms and heraldic motifs, including those of Hull, Kingston, Scarborough, Ripon and Leeds. James Kitson (1835-1911) was an industrial magnate and notable figure in the Liberal Party, reorganising and for many years

the central power in it; he became first Baron Airedale in 1907. The firm of JC Edwards of The Rhos Glazed Brick and Trefynant Fireclay Works, Pen-y-Bont, supplied the bricks and terracotta for several city centre buildings, characterised by a bright red finish, including the Hotel Metropole, King Street (qv). (The Rhos Glazed Brick and Trefynant Fireclay Works, Pen-y-Bont: Catalogue of buildings in Leeds ..: 1892-).

Listing NGR: SE2979033469