3 Market Place, Lauder

This is a mid 19th century terrace of three buildings, built in two separate stages. Originally designed as three shops with flats above, number 3 has since been converted into a house. The building is constructed of coursed cherry-caulking whinstone with droved sandstone dressings. A base course runs along the ground, a band course is above the ground floor, and an eaves band tops the building. A moulded cornice sits above the band course, with a low parapet and coped skews above. Long and short surrounds frame the windows, except for those on the ground floor of number 3. The lintels of the first-floor windows are incorporated into the eaves band. Large display windows occupy the ground floor. Flanking quoins define the corners of the building.

The principal, or southwest, elevation is divided into nine bays, grouped in threes. The left-hand two bays comprise the front of number 3. A central entrance is flanked by windows, set within a tripartite architrave with moulded reveals. Vertical members connect to the base course, and surrounding windows have alternate long surrounds. A two-leaf panelled timber replacement door is accompanied by a rectangular fanlight. A timber mullion divides the flanking windows. To the right, an entrance leads to the upstairs flats, with a four-panel timber door and rectangular fanlight. The central three bays (part of number 5) include a two-bay shopfront with a central entrance, flanked by windows, all set within a tripartite surround and with long and short surrounds adjoining the base course. A two-leaf glazed replacement door is present. A window to the left, possibly formerly a shop window, also has long and short surrounds. The final three bays (part of number 5, slightly later) feature a central entrance with a two-leaf glazed replacement door, flanked by windows. The cills of the first-floor windows adjoin the band course.

The southeast elevation adjoins number 7 Market Place, while the northwest elevation adjoins number 1 Market Place, the Eagle Hotel. The northeast elevation was not inspected in 1998.

The windows are timber sash and case, with four panes on the first floor and single fixed panes or two-pane sash and case on the ground floor. Grey slate covers the roof, with three harled coped ridge stacks, including a gable end stack on the northwest side.

The interior of number 3 retains several early fittings, including a pair of fluted columns with stylised capitals supporting a ceiling in the front ground floor room and on the first-floor landing. A staircase, with alternately dog-leg and quarter-turn sections, incorporates winders and a decorative cast iron balustrade with a wooden handrail. A late 19th century stained glass window, depicting Napoleon on horseback and a coat of arms with the motto 'HOC SECURIOR', is also present, signed William Gardner, St Helens. A chamfered and stopped stone fireplace with an Art Nouveau insert is in the rear ground floor room. Number 5 retains a pair of fluted columns with stylised capitals supporting a ceiling in the shop to the right, at ground floor level.