The former Boot and Shoe Operatives Union and National Union Headquarters

The former Boot and Shoe Operatives Union and National Union Headquarters

This building was constructed in 1902 to designs by Harrison & Hattrell of Leicester, with Leicester Builders Ltd. as contractors. It served as the headquarters for the Boot and Shoe Operatives Union and the National Union.

Exterior and Materials

The front elevation facing St James Street is an imposing classical façade composed of three bays, built in white Hollington Stone with brick infill and a polished Aberdeen granite plinth. The ground floor features rusticated pilasters that frame and subdivide the façade. The central feature is a round-arched main entrance framed by banded moulding with scroll detailing around a pair of intricately panelled doors. Giant Corinthian columns, part fluted, frame the mullion and transom windows of the upper two floors. The side windows are broader and take the form of shallow oriels with decorative Art Nouveau style railings to the first floor central window balcony. The central windows on the upper floors are united by band moulding that forms a round arch on the top floor, where a small plaque dated 1902 is set within the arch. The original timber framed windows are retained throughout except for the top left oriel window, which has been replaced with uPVC.

Interior

The main entrance from St James Street leads through a wide vestibule and a pair of arched, semi-glazed timber panelled doors with a crescent shaped fan light above. The entrance hall is a handsome and inviting space divided by three arches supported by columns of polished Devonshire marble with Roman Ionic capitals. To the left is the stair; to the right is the main entrance to the assembly hall. The hall and stair ceiling feature decorative foliate and floral plasterwork, complemented and emphasised by an elaborate wrought-iron balustrade and newel posts by Gimson and Co., which adorn the concrete and steel stair. The entrance hall retains its decorative, coloured tessellated floor, ornate radiators, skirting, moulded cornice, doors and door surrounds throughout.

Left of the stair, a large semi-glazed and timber panelled door with a moulded and scrolled arched surround, side windows and a rectangular fan light, leads into the former offices for the President and Vice President of the No. 1 Branch. To the right of the hall are the offices of the No. 2 Branch. The first floor suite of offices was for the secretary of the No. 1 Branch, while the National Union occupied the second floor. Both the second and third floors are relatively plain in decorative detailing, although all original skirting, cornices, brass window and door furniture and decorative radiators survive, with the exception of the window in the main office of the third floor, which has been replaced with uPVC. A notable feature of the main offices on both the first and second floors is a strong room, each with their Gardiner Sons and Co. iron reinforced doors still in place. The upper floor has been subdivided in the late 20th century to create a kitchen and living accommodation.

To the rear of the entrance hall, semi-glazed and timber panelled doors lead to the assembly hall, described at the time of building as the most beautiful and artistic portion of the building. It extends just over 21 metres in length and 10 metres wide, and is well ventilated and lit by a long, well proportioned lantern light in the roof. An elaborate cornice of foliate plasterwork runs around the hall, and the maple parquet flooring survives throughout. A platform or stage is positioned at the western end; however, the wrought iron balustrade and teak rail which originally ran along the front of the platform no longer survives. A gallery capable of seating 70 people at the Earl Street end of the assembly hall has also been removed, probably at the time the Earl Street elevation was reconfigured and extended.

A post-1930s office range extends to the rear of the assembly hall at right angles to the earlier building, with elevations to Earl Street and Eldon Street. The three floors each have a main corridor running roughly north to south with offices, WCs and kitchens leading off. The architectural detailing of this range is functional and of limited architectural and historic interest, and is therefore excluded from the listing.