Downings Malthouse

GLOUCESTER

SO8217 MERCHANTS' ROAD 844-1/15/200 (East side) 12/03/73 Downing's Malthouse (Formerly Listed as: BAKER'S QUAY Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Malthouse (G & WE Downing))

GV II

Malthouse. Dated 1893. Later alterations. Probably by Walter B Wood of Gloucester, for G and WE Downing, maltsters. Red brick with narrow bands of contrasting brick, gabled slate roofs with coped parapets. A large block in L-plan comprising a pair of parallel ranges and a third, attached, parallel ranges on north side with gable-ends facing Merchants' Road, probably a kiln with vented roof ridge, and attached at rear on north side a short, end-gabled range facing High Orchard Street. EXTERIOR: four storeys to front ranges, three storeys to rear range; the gabled fronts to the southern pair of ranges are similar and symmetrical, each of three bays defined on the two upper floors by recessed panels framed by strip pilasters and the gable parapet; on the ground floor a central semicircular-arched doorway and to each side a circular window; on the first floor three windows with segmental-arched heads; on the second floor within each of the recessed panels and on the third floor in the side panels a window similar to the first-floor windows; on the third floor in the central panel in the left-hand range is a weatherboarded gabled hoist housing, supported on a pair of cast-iron brackets; former similar housing on the front of the right-hand range indicated by a scar on the face of the brickwork; the east gable-end walls of the pair of ranges have similar features but only two recessed panels on the two upper floors and two windows to each floor. The front of the north range has two doorways on the ground floor and two small, blocked, segmental-arched windows on first floor, above two large recessed panes framed by quoin strips, a central pilaster strip and gable parapets; above, masking the end of the ridge vent, is a small gabled panel with recessed stone inscribed with date. On the north side of the range at first-floor level are four widely spaced segmental-arched windows, and above ten recessed panels framed by pilaster strips and eaves strip. The range facing High Orchard Street was probably built as a small warehouse of three storeys and three bays with fourth

bay added at north end, the three bays symmetrical with central loading doors to each floor, now blocked, and to each side on each floor a segmental-arched window with projecting stone sill; in the added bay on each floor a similar window with brick sill. INTERIOR: not inspected.

Listing NGR: SO8263817943