Shaftsbury Chambers

Shaftsbury Chambers is an office building constructed in 1904 by Edward Gabriel. It is a group value building of considerable architectural merit. The exterior is faced with grey granite ashlar at ground level and limestone ashlar above. It features lateral stacks, a slate mansard roof, and a copper-clad dome. The building has a double-depth plan and is designed in an Edwardian Baroque style.

The building comprises three storeys, two attics, and a basement, with a three-window front. The ground floor has raised bands, a rock-faced plinth, long quoins with raised rounded panels, and a moulded band. It features a tetrastyle Ionic colonnade leading to the upper floors, with an entablature projecting at the ends and over the central pair of columns, incorporating a modillion cornice and a central open segmental pediment. The attic storey is set back on each side with a moulded coping, leading to a central section with clasping panelled pilasters. Above this is an octagonal drum with a moulded coping and copper dome.

The ground-floor arcade has three semicircular arches with moulded imposts. The right-hand doorway has double eight-panel doors with a plate-glass overlight, and there are plate-glass windows. The upper floors contain flush mullions and transoms, with a two-storey, three-light central bow and flanking cross windows. Panels between the storeys feature swag, drapery, and branches. The Mannerist style pediment has carved elements, including a shield in the tympanum, volutes above, balustrades on each side, and two reclining figures at the top. The attic has an open central arch with raised voussoirs and an eared, keyed architrave. The octagonal drum has semicircular-arched windows with imposts and keys, and the roof has semicircular-arched dormers with scrolled feet, finished with a finial and weather vane.

The rear elevation dates to the 18th century and features segmental-headed windows with six-pane sashes. The interior has not been inspected.