Former Blue Bird Toffee Factory: Administration Building

Former Blue Bird Toffee Factory: Administration Building

This is the former factory administration building constructed between 1925 and 1927 to the designs of S N Cooke for Harry Vincent Limited. The building is set back facing the road and consists of two storeys of single-depth plan, oriented north-east to south-west. The attached factory building to its rear is not of special interest.

The principal front elevation is designed in the neo-Georgian style and is constructed of red brick with stone dressings. The mixed-bond brick elevations feature brick quoins and ashlar dressings. At the centre is a portico entrance in the Doric Order with two columns displaying entasis. Above this, a brick parapet carries inscribed tablets reading HARRY VINCENT LTD. To either side of the entrance, eight-window wings with corner bays breaking forward extend the composition. These wings have ashlar plinths and parapets, with regularly-spaced openings fitted with later 20th-century margin-glazed frames, stone cills and flat brick heads with ashlar keystones. The flank elevations each contain margin-glazed openings to both floors and a door with ashlar case. The rear elevation is enclosed within the factory building and finished with glazed tiles.

The recessed, semi-circular main entrance is formed with Doric pilasters between Flemish bond brickwork and is stone-flagged. To the left is a foundation stone inscribed: THIS STONE WAS LAID / BY / MRS HARRY VINCENT / JULY 25TH 1925. The central door entrance has a stone case with moulded architrave and hood. The double-leaf doors are fitted with bronze furniture and leaded glazing featuring a shell design.

The roof is flat with an unknown covering and lantern lights.

Internally, the entrance vestibule and open-well staircase are clad in stone. The staircase has a steel balustrade with stone newels. The balustrade continues through to the upper level landing, which is lit by a lantern. A stone block on the half-landing wall is inscribed: SIR HARRY VINCENT / LLD / 1874-1952 / FOUNDER OF THIS COMPANY / A man of hope / and forward-looking mind / Even to the last. Late 20th-century double-leaf doors lead to the tiled first-floor corridor, which is lit by four lanterns. Single-flight stairs at each end of the corridor have oak handrails, square newels and stick balustrades; those at ground floor level have been enclosed in later glazing. At the north end of the first floor, the Director's office is fitted with oak panelling and columns, a marble chimneypiece with bronze grate, and light fixtures. The adjacent office has oak wainscoting and a stone chimneypiece with marble tiling. Other notable first-floor offices include one with a stone chimneypiece and oak overmantel, a leaded ceiling lantern, and a strong room with a door by Whitfield's Safe and Door Company, London. The ground floor contains further oak doors, glazed partitions, timber sashes with leaded and frosted glazing, and a stone chimneypiece. The corridor is covered with glazed tiles to dado level. Some rooms have been reordered. Doors with upper glazing at each end of the ground floor provided access to the former factory building.

The interior features oak, stone and bronze fittings to the Director's Suite and to some other principal rooms. The entrance hall and main stair are stone-clad. Interior window frames are of timber, whilst exterior window frames are powder-coated aluminium. Some internal doors are modern.