265 And Attached Forecourt Wall And Railings

Factory office built in 1928 to the designs of Percy Sharp for George Mason and Co Ltd, manufacturers of OK Sauce. The building is Art Deco in style.

The structure is brick built with Fletton bricks visible to the rear, while the other three sides are clad in cream faience with decorative mouldings. The roof, concealed behind a parapet, is hipped and now clad in later 20th-century pantiles. The original cast iron casement windows are retained throughout. The building is symmetrical with two storeys and a fifteen-window range, with projecting central porch and end pavilions.

The entrance front features paired bracket eaves cornice and moulded band above the first floor. Above the three central windows is a ramped-up parapet and flagstaff. The central first floor window is round-headed with moulded bracket, flanked by two mullioned and transomed casements, all with original frosted glass. The projecting porch has four plain pilasters, three panels, central cornice on console brackets, and the date of construction in Roman numerals (A. MCMXXVIII. D). The architrave features bead and reel moulding, and double doors with six field panels in total. Four marble steps lead to the entrance. On either side are five windows with large tripartite mullioned and transomed casements having metal bases with three panels and fasces decoration. Ground floor windows are mainly mullioned and transomed casements, though the central windows are circular with enriched keystone and pivoting casement. The end bays have curved pediments, circular openings with decoration of fasces, first floor French windows with enriched keystone flanked by sidelights, balconies supported on brackets with cast iron railings, and two casement windows to the ground floor. Attached to these projecting end wings is a low forecourt wall faced with cream faience and cast iron railings with projecting principals featuring circular design. The side elevations feature similar curved pediments with oculi, bracket cornice and moulded band above the first floor. The bay nearest the front has a large blank window with enriched keystone and fasces motif to the architrave, a false balcony and two plain casements to the ground floor. A recessed section to the rear has two casements to the first floor and large casements to the ground floor. The rear elevation is of brick with stone lintels and cast iron casements.

Internally, the vestibule retains ovolo moulding to the ceiling. The entrance hall retains two full-height piers. A well staircase to the left of centre is in Jacobethan style with square panelled newel posts with knops and decorated stick balusters. The landing has two Ionic piers and twin Ionic pilasters, and the ceiling is panelled with ovolo moulding. The first floor end right room contains a Jacobethan style stepped painted brick fireplace with brackets and applied timber framing featuring two large chamfered upright posts with solid brackets, thinner ceiling joists, wall framing of thin scantling and plank door.

Sauce production ended in 1968 and the building was subsequently acquired by Autocue. The building remains externally unaltered and internally retains its original staircase, landing features and other original fittings.