Thorntons Buildings

Thornton’s Buildings are shops and offices dating to 1873, with alterations made in the 20th century. They were possibly designed by George Smith for Charles Thornton. The building is constructed of red brick with stone dressings and a slate roof. It occupies a corner site with nine bays facing The Headrow, four bays facing Lands Lane, one angled bay, and a two-window bay on the left return (the City Varieties entrance).

The windows are arranged in groups of 2, 1, 3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 1, and 2 bays along The Headrow, three bays at the rounded corner, and 2, 2, 1, 2 bays on Lands Lane. The first-floor windows have round arches, the second floor windows have segmental arches. They feature attached columns, impost bands, keyed architraves and pilasters dividing the bays. Deep eaves incorporate raised brick panels, along with moulded strings and a bracketed cornice. The blocking course is raised to a balustrade above the central three bays on The Headrow and over the rounded corner to Lands Lane, each incorporating a segmental carved panel with scrolls, flowers, and the inscriptions ‘ANNO DOMINI 1873’ on The Headrow, and ‘THORNTON’S BUILDINGS’ on the Lands Lane corner.

The original entrance, located in the second bay on the ground floor, has a stone surround with brackets and a cornice. The original glazed overlight bears the inscription "THORNTON’S CHAMBERS" in gold lettering. The ground floor windows and shop entrances have been renewed, but follow the original bay divisions. The interior has not been inspected.

Charles Thornton played an important role in the development of Leeds as a shopping centre, and this building was developed along with Thornton’s Arcade.