88-91, BRIGGATE

LEEDS

SE3033NW BRIGGATE 714-1/76/61 (East side) 09/07/96 Nos.88-91 (Consecutive)

GV II

Shops and houses. Early C19 with c1925 refacing; later C20 shop windows to ground floor. Rendered brick, slate roof. Corner site, 3 storeys with attics and cellars, 4 two-window bays to Briggate, 4 windows to The Headrow, curved corner. Tall narrow windows have plate-glass sashes to 1st floor and 9-pane sashes with C20 replacements to 2nd; lunette window with 6-pane fixed-light frame to The Headrow gable. Render incised in imitation of banded ashlar and bay divisions marked by pilasters with plaques and swags. 4 rendered 4-flue stacks forward of ridge. INTERIOR: the chimneys are built against the cross-walls dividing the building into 4 units facing Briggate; a spine wall to rear of the ridge line rises through the 1st and 2nd floors but the ground floor is gutted. Early C19 features include: stone-lined cellars, cast-iron columns supporting ground floor; staircases with fine column-on-vase balustrades and ramped handrails surviving at 3rd and attic storeys; an attic fireplace with carved stone moulded surround and flower motif and cast-iron basket grate; 6-panel doors with fielded and moulded panels. Later alterations include a wide staircase which served the 2 central units, c1925. The building is shown in the early C19 engraving of the Corn Exchange, (Fraser p.187), the date and proportions are similar to the Leeds Library, No.18 Commercial Street (qv). (Fraser D: A History of Modern Leeds: Manchester UP: 1980-: 187).

Listing NGR: SE3028033716