Former Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society factory ('The Scotch Stores'), MIDDLE SECTION- 'FACTORY', Sligo Road, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 7JY

Former Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society factory ('The Scotch Stores'), Sligo Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

A long, mainly two-storey late Victorian rubble-built former factory with an integral manager's house, featuring large Jacobean gables and an overall 'Highland lodge' character. The complex originally belonged to the Scottish Wholesale Cooperative Society and was used for processing livestock. It is believed to have been built in 1893 to designs by Thomas Elliot, though its considerable length, varying roof heights, and differing levels of detailing suggest that some portions may have been added a few years after the initial construction.

The building runs roughly north to south, curving in line with Sligo Road and Old Henry Street, following an irregular plan. At the northern end stands Thistle Bank House. To its south the house merges with a much larger block that originally contained offices but is now subdivided into shops, with a large eastern section serving as a meeting place for a local church. This transitions into a large, plainer, lower-proportioned block that probably housed the factory proper itself, now occupied by shops, a snooker hall and other businesses. Further south is a long, narrow block, possibly originally warehouses, which is slightly taller and more ornate than the section to its immediate north. This section contains shops alongside a bingo hall and restaurant. At the very southern end, the complex appears to have been extended in more recent years, around the 1970s, with the addition of plain flat-roofed sections, also filled with shops.

To the west of the building, the ground level rises so that much of the block appears single-storey from this side. A long, narrow enclosed yard runs along the western elevation, with a long gabled outbuilding that, like its larger neighbour, is two-storey to the east but single-storey to the west. At the south gable of this outbuilding stands a tall square battered brick chimney, indicating it once contained a boiler or boiling house.

Much of the complex is constructed in squared rock-faced limestone with smooth dressings and quoins. Throughout the building, considerable alteration has occurred in recent years, particularly to window and door openings and the application of modern signage, especially along the east façade fronting the busy Sligo Road.

The middle factory section immediately south of the office block is a slightly lower, much plainer section forming a large square block, two-storey to the east and single-storey to the west, with four shallow conjoined hipped roofs now covered in corrugated metal sheeting. The east elevation at ground floor features a series of very large shop windows and doors with modern signage. The first floor contains a small original window with segmental head at the far left, followed by four much larger square-ish windows to the right, all appearing to be recent enlargements with modern frames. A large portion of the left-hand side projects forward. The west elevation is single-storey, fronting onto Old Henry Street, with five large square windows with modern glazing and a large doorway to the far right; all openings appear to have been enlarged in recent years. The exposed part of the south elevation, visible from the rear yard off Old Henry Street, is now blank, all original openings having been blocked up.

Since the later 1970s, the complex has been occupied mainly by shop and workshop units of various sizes. Large modern extensions, possibly dating from the 1960s or 1970s, are present at the southern end.