Former Clay's Printing Works

The former Clay's Printing Works, now offices, was constructed in 1909. Designed by G.F Collinson, the architect, and Alexander Drew, the engineer, it is an early example of reinforced concrete construction using the Kahn system, an American innovation introduced to Britain during the Edwardian period, and considered second in significance only to the earlier Hennebique system.

The building is five storeys over a basement, with the top floor set back. Originally comprising 13 bays symmetrically arranged around an entrance range, with an additional goods bay to the south, it is of a largely rectangular form. A central tower, rising to six storeys, projects slightly, as do the bays at each end, which were originally topped with low domes.

The facade is marked by piers, each breaking the skyline with an octagonal chimney or vent, and a protruding iron ring at the second floor. A glazed loggia extends across the bays between the central tower and the end bays on the third floor, sheltered by a deeply coved cornice over the bays flanking the tower, where round-arched windows are located. The lower three floors feature tripartite rectangular windows with flat metal frames in each bay. The ground floor of the southernmost bay has a wide goods entrance, above which a large semicircular window with four vertical divisions is located at the first floor. The central entrance is emphasised by a simple attached column arrangement.

The interior remains uninspected.

The building’s style is eclectic, incorporating influences from Chicago School commercial design and the work of W.R. Lethaby, with a subtle Tudor detailing combined with Arts and Crafts elements. The structure exhibits considerable architectural merit, with the straightforward pier and spandrel system given grandeur and a powerful scale by the designer.