Former H A Saunders Garage, Worcester

Former H A Saunders Garage, Worcester

This is a single and two-storeyed garage building of red brick laid in Flemish bond, with a factory roof featuring northern lights and corrugated metal covering. The most distinctive feature is a square clock tower with an octagonal cupola at the centre of the Castle Street frontage. The cupola has a concave copper roof with a sceptre finial.

The principal front to Castle Street comprises low blocks set either side of the tower. The right-hand block projects slightly and is fronted by a colonnade of square brick columns, with a plain brick parapet above topped by stone obelisks at the corners. The tower itself tapers gradually as it rises, with metal-framed windows of the Crittal type across its lower three storeys: a wide three-light window at ground floor level and clusters of three single casements to both the first and second floors. Similar window groupings appear on the west flank of the tower. Clock faces are set into all four fronts of the tower. Below the western clock face is a carved coat of arms on stone, and the tower wall is finished with plain stone coping topped by a metal handrail. Three flagpoles rise above the southern front. The cupola features angled pillars rising to a plain parapet with a simple entablature divided by projecting bands.

To the left of the tower the walling is recessed, with a shutter door to the far left. Horizontal bands of windows on both ground and first floors occupy the centre of this block, replacing original fenestration. The ground floor window at right appears to be an adapted garage door. A pedestrian doorway to the right of centre has a half-glazed door and a fanlight with tapered sides. A plain parapet above this section is topped with a stone obelisk at the left-hand corner.

The interior comprises two generous uninterrupted spaces set either side of the tower, the eastern space being at a higher level. A ramp with metal handrail rises from the western workshop area to the eastern showroom. The former workshop retains two walled-off areas at its south-eastern corner, one original and the other formed of late-20th century breeze-block walls, now serving as a loading bay for a furnishing store. An original inspection pit, approached by stairs on either side, has been converted to storage. A glazed screen separates the two main spaces.

The eastern showroom is divided into two levels. A short central staircase features a decorative metal balustrade with brass handrail ending in wreathed curtails at the foot, with the balustrade continuing along the front of a raised stage. The hardwood surrounds to the plate glass showroom windows and central swing doors appear to be original. The tower houses an office at ground floor level and lavatories to the upper two floors. Above these is a platform supporting the original cased clock mechanism, which remains in situ though now superseded by a later electric mechanism.