Building On South West Corner Of Gammon Lane

The building on the south-west corner of Gammon Lane is a former showroom for M Square & Sons, merchants of implements, manure, and cake, now used as offices. It was constructed in 1903 by architect Alexander Lauder. The structure is made of cream-coloured brick with blue brick, stone, and terracotta dressings. It features a slated roof with red ridge-tiles, a gablet at the left end, and a gable with a cream-coloured brick chimney at the right end.

The building has a broad, oblong plan and originally served as the front building to a range of warehouses and stables. It is two storeys high and has an arcaded seven-bay front, consisting of a series of segmental blue-brick arches that spring from giant pilasters on blue-brick pedestals. The pilasters are adorned with moulded stone capitals and bases. The second bay from each end features broader pilasters with taller superimposed pilasters that rise to support entablatures and triangular pediments at the eaves level. The left-hand entablature has "ESTABLISHED 1875" carved on its frieze, along with a terracotta scene of ploughing in the pediment. The right-hand entablature has "ERECTED 1903" on the frieze and a terracotta scene of reaping in the pediment.

The space within the arches was originally almost entirely glazed, but the ground storey has been altered, except for the twisted iron guard-rails. All original windows remain on the upper storey, featuring glazing bars that form a medieval style pattern with two round-headed lights surmounted by a small circular light.

Although the interior was not inspected, it is known to contain a fine timber roof with queen struts, arch braces, and shaped raking struts. The building occupies an important site facing the cattle market and the castle mound. Alexander Lauder was a notable architect from Barnstaple, whose pupils included W.R. Lethaby. He also designed Ravelin Manor, which is listed.