W Martyn, Grocers Shop On The Ground Floor

EXTERIOR: The shop front consists of two plate-glass windows in narrow white metal frames above low black Vitrolite stallrisers with an off-centre lobby, also of plate glass, with a white mosaic floor with the name of the shop in black and wooden-framed glazed door with margin lights. Above the plate glass are five transom lights of etched glass, with a black Vitrolite fascia over these with the legend W. MARTYN in crimson raised block capitals. The awnings are modern replacements in the style of the 1930s originals. The shop front is framed by the 1890s pink granite pilasters on grey granite plinths with ornate pedimented acanthus-leafed console brackets of Bath stone, in the Queen Anne style.

INTERIOR: The interior of the shop has a hardwood boarded floor and dark tongue and groove matchboard panelling, which is obscured by the mahogany shelving occupying the three sides of available wall space. The shelving is of high quality with moulded tops, decorative candy-twist columns and fluted pilasters. Some of the horizontal shelves have been replaced over time. The serving counter runs up the right-hand side of the shop and has display shelves in front. Behind the counter, below the shelving, are semi-circular metal storage bins with hinged wooden lids with four drawers between each bin. The rear wall of the shop interior has a hatch to a cash desk and a door behind the counter through to a stock room, again with wooden shelving not all of which is original. A late-C20 suspended ceiling is not of special interest.