Great Hampton Works

BIRMINGHAM

997/0/10377 GREAT HAMPTON ROW 29-APR-04 170-174 Great Hampton Works

II Engineering Works. Early C20 with later C20 alterations. Red brick with ashlar and terracotta dressings and blue brick detailing. Roof concealed by shallow parapets. PLAN: Large irregular rectangular complex occupying half a block bounded by Smith Street to the north-east, Great Hampton Row to the south-east and Harford Street to the north-west. EXTERIOR: Smith Street elevation: Long, near-symmetrical frontage with angled north-west corner incorporating main entrance. This has flanking banded piers with a moulded segmental hood. Inner doorway with ashlar surround, half-glazed double doors and a semi-circular overlight with diagonal glazing bars. Above, a canted oriel with glazing bar sash windows flanked by angled brick piers which extend upwards to frame an angled parapet wall incorporating an ashlar plaque with relief carving. To the south-east, a 2 storey, 12 bay elevation , arranged 2:2:4:2:2 and of pier and panel form with some surviving original multi-pane transomed window frames. These have plain flush lintels and cills with blue brick margins to the upper floor. Bays 3 and 4 and bays 9 and 10 are defined by square ashlar columns at ground floor level, with banded pilasters to the upper floor, framing windows with blind semi-circular arched heads set below a raised section of parapet. Bays 3 and 4 have vehicle entrances with boarded doors, bays 9 and 10 retain transomed windows. Ashlar frieze panels above these openings, that to bays 2 and 3 obscured by replacement signage, that to bays 9 and 10 with lettering which reads 'GREAT HAMPTON WORKS', the lettering in an Arts and Crafts style. The 5-bay return elevation to Great Hampton Row is plainly detailed, with multi-pane 3-light transomed upper floor windows, the openings below with late C20 replacement frames. End bay with secondary doorway, with its 4-panel door below overlight with diagonal glazing bars. Angled junction of Smith Street and Harford Street elevations with diagonal blue brick diaper work. Near-symmetrical elevation of 8 bays , arranged 3:2:3 , with centre 2 bays detailed as in the Smith Street frontage, with doorway below deep overlight to left and wide multi-pane doorway to right. A large early C20 works complex with 3 street frontage elevations displaying functional differentiation within a coherent and carefully detailed then-contemporary design. One of a small number of large manufacturing complexes on the margins of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter of notable architectural quality, reflecting that of contemporary small manufactories within the Quarter, and often supplying machinery for use within them.