Unity House

Unity House is a building comprising shops, offices, and a meeting hall, constructed in 1901. It is built of red brick with sandstone dressings and slate roofs. The west front has three storeys plus an attic, arranged over nine bays, with a three-bay office on the right. An off-centre entrance features a segment-arched opening with a central curved keystone, supported by stone brackets to a balcony. The entrance is flanked by plate-glass shop fronts with pilasters between. Above the shop fronts, there are six two-light sashes to the right, and two two-light and a single three-light segment-headed casements to the left. Above these are nine tall round-headed windows with wooden tracery, plain pilasters, topped by a moulded cornice, and two partly stepped gables. The roof is topped by the base of a former cupola. The three-bay office to the right has a projecting centre, featuring a segment-headed carriage arch with plank doors on the left, a four-light segment-headed casement, and a plank door with overlight. Above, there is a central four-light segment-headed window, a similar three-light window to the left, and a plain sash to the right. Above this are a central triple sash, a double sash to the left, and a single sash. Further above is a curved gable with a double casement. The north-west corner features an octagonal tower topped with a short spire. The north front is divided into two sections. To the right, a three-bay gabled section has two plate-glass shop fronts, and above a two-light segment-headed casement, flanked by three-light similar windows. A stone plaque inscribed "UNITY HALL" is positioned above. Above this is an elaborately moulded cornice and an ornate gable with a small two-light window. To the left is a projecting octagonal turret with a banded spire. The left section has two plate-glass shop fronts, and above four segment-headed arches, the central two containing three-light casements, the outer two with pierced balconies and angled two-light segment-headed windows. Above are two central double sashes with angled sashes to either side, all with flat moulded heads. A deeply moulded cornice runs along the top, with a hipped roof, iron finials, and a connecting iron ridge piece. The upper meeting hall contains an ornate wooden roof, now partially obscured by a false ceiling.