Premises On East Corner Of New Street

The premises on the east corner of New Street, also known as "Long's Stores," is a tobacco and snuff factory that was originally built as a silk mill by John Austie in 1785. The building is constructed of yellow stock brick on a projecting coursed rubble base and features three storeys, plus a later fourth storey. It has a plain stone sill course at the first floor, a panelled stone sill course at the second floor, and a plain stone frieze with a moulded cornice at the third floor sill level. Above the fourth floor, there is a shallow moulded stone cornice and a small blocking course. The roof is a concealed hipped slate design.

The symmetrical front of the building consists of 11 bays, with the three centre bays projecting 4.5 inches through the entire height. The central section includes three windows on the fourth floor, two bulls-eye windows on the third floor flanking a wide three-light lunette on the second floor, two windows and a central hoist door on the first floor, and two windows with a central double window in an arched recess on the ground floor. The flanking wings each have four windows on the upper floors, while the ground floor features four windows on the left and three windows along with a recessed six-panel door on the right, which has a plain rectangular fanlight. All windows are recessed sashes with intact glazing bars.

To the left of the main front, there is a yard entry with fine double cast iron gates set between modern brick piers. The gates are adorned with spearhead rails, dog rails, and cross bars, with inverted anthemion finials alternating with spearheads at the top. The side facing New Street was rebuilt in 1831, maintaining a similar design with cornice and sill courses returned, three windows on the fourth floor, a large tripartite lunette on the third floor, and two windows on both the first and ground floors. There is also a slightly recessed three-storey extension with two windows.

Inside, the building features oak beams and elm joists. Overall, it is a plain yet carefully designed structure that dominates the street without overpowering it, thanks to the width of the street.