Long’s Supermarket, 141C Strand Road, Londonderry, BT48 7PB

A 15 bay long 3 storey flat roof former shirt factory with 4 storey pavilion blocks at each end, both 3 bays wide in an eclectic neo classical style. The external material in a mixture of red brick and painted smooth rendering. At the time of survey the building was in the process of major renovation and adaptation. The east elevation which fronts onto Strand Road has a 15 bay long 3 storey centre part with 3 bay 4 storey pavilions at each end. The centre part is articulated by tall smooth rendered pilasters with freely interpreted capitals. The windows and spandrel walls are set back to give a deep reveal to the pilasters. Originally the windows were industrial type metal subdivided into small Georgian like panes of glass. Later these were removed and timber windows inserted divided into 9 approximately square panes. Presently these are being substituted with new windows of less height as the ceilings within are being reduced in height and a centre door added. Shallow balconies are being created with galv. metal balustrading. The spandrels are thus cut into by these doors. The pilasters support a deep frieze and cornice finished in painted rendering and above a solid parapet in brick and plaster. A new entrance at ground floor has been created at the Northern end of the centrepiece. The end pavilions are identical with the centre bay picked out with enclosing broad pilasters and fenestration as before. The bays on each are faced with redbrick and have single metal windows on each floor. Some of these windows retain their original metal frames. The 3rd floor is designed as a classical attic storey. The N and S elevations of the pavilions are similarly treated except at ground floor where there was entrance doors at each end having a wide smooth plastered surround. The west or rear elevation is undergoing major change. The ground floor extends out into the carpark with flat roof. A 4 storey narrow width block projects 3 bays. The upper floors are divided into bays by broad vertical bands of redbrick which continue to the top of the parapet. The end pavilions are similarly treated. The building was originally a shirt factory, later some 15 years ago the ground floor was adapted to supermarket use. At present the supermarket is being extended to the rear and the upper floors adapted to flats. The flat roof has been reasphalted and behind the parapet there is an arrangement of stacks accommodating ventilation. The building is set back 5 metres from back of footwalk and approximately 600mm above it.