Former Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society factory ('The Scotch Stores'), SOUTH END 'FACTORY EXTENSIONS', Sligo Road, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 7JY

Former Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Society Factory ('The Scotch Stores')

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

The complex is situated on the south-west edge of Enniskillen, positioned to the west of Sligo Road and the east of Old Henry Street. The building runs roughly north to south, curving in line with these roads, and is irregular in plan form.

The main building comprises several distinct sections merging together. At the north end stands Thistle Bank House, the manager's residence. South of this is a much larger block that once contained offices but now contains shops, with a large eastern portion serving as a meeting place for a local church. This transitions into a plainer, lower-proportioned block that likely once housed the factory proper and is now occupied by shops, a snooker hall, and other commercial uses. Further south is a long narrow block, slightly taller and more ornate, probably originally warehouses but now containing shops, a bingo hall, and restaurant. At the very south end are plain flat-roofed sections of apparent 1970s date, filled with shops.

Much of the complex is constructed in squared rock-faced limestone with smooth dressings and quoins. To the west of the main building, the ground level rises considerably, so that much of the structure appears single-storey on this side. A long narrow enclosed yard to the west contains a long gabled outbuilding, also two-storey to the east but single-storey to the west. A tall square battered brick chimney stands at the south gable of this outbuilding, evidence of former boiler or boiling house installations.

Since the late 1970s, the complex has been occupied by shops and workshop units of various sizes. This conversion has involved considerable alteration to windows and door openings, particularly to the east façade fronting Sligo Road, and the application of modern signage throughout.

The south end extensions, dating to approximately the 1960s or 1970s, have a distinctly modern character. The original portion comprises a long single to one-and-a-half-storey warehouse building to the west, whilst to the east (Sligo Road side) two large flat-roofed extensions have been added. The larger northern extension is two-storey, much of its east façade constructed in similar rock-faced stone to the original building, this section suspected to be originally a high wall extending from the main building. The smaller southern extension appears wholly modern, finished with rendered façade and large windows.

Behind these extensions lies the original eastern portion, featuring a stone façade consistent with the rest of the complex and a slated gabled roof, with a single-storey lean-to to the west. The small exposed section of east façade contains a large modern shop front accessed by a recently installed flight of steps. The mainly gabled south façade displays three windows—two arranged as a pair—with cream brick dressings and modern frames. At the gable apex is a round window with similar cream brick dressings and a fixed light frame.

The west elevation consists of the lean-to section merging with a slightly taller gabled section. The gabled section has five tall windows with modern fixed light frames and a raised recessed doorway with timber-sheeted door. The lean-to section contains three doorways—one glazed and two timber-sheeted—along with two small windows with modern frames and, to the far right, a large shop window with fixed light frame, which may once have contained two sash frames. Most openings on this elevation feature cream brick dressings. The exposed north gable of the gabled section is blank and rendered.