List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: FORMER REFUGE ASSURANCE COMPANY OFFICES
List Entry Number: 1271429
Location
FORMER REFUGE ASSURANCE COMPANY OFFICES, OXFORD STREET
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County:
District: Manchester
District Type: Metropolitan Authority
Parish: Non Civil Parish
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II*
Date first listed: 03-Oct-1974
Date of most recent amendment: 06-Jun-1994
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 454854
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
MANCHESTER
SJ8497NW OXFORD STREET
698-1/32/268 (East side)
03/10/74 Former Refuge Assurance Company
Offices
(Formerly Listed as:
OXFORD STREET
Refuge Assurance Company Offices)
GV II*
Insurance company offices. 1891 by Alfred Waterhouse, extended
1910 and 1912 by his son Paul Waterhouse, and further extended
in 1930s. Steel frame, clad in red brick with liberal
dressings of deep brown and buff terracotta, and grey
Dalbeattie granite to base of tower. Irregular plan formed by
original square block on corner of Whitworth Street, block to
south of this added 1910 (triangular at rear), tower between
and linking these added 1912, and rectangular block added to
east end of original Whitworth Street range in 1930s. Very
large and ornate eclectic design with French Renaissance
accent and some Baroque features. Four storeys with basements
and attics, the first block with a large corner element and
then 6-bay facades to both streets, next the tower flanked by
deep 1-bay re-entrants, with 3-bay porch in front, and a 6-bay
range beyond this; with brick piers, enriched bands between
floors, undulating parapets, tiered shaped gables to the end
bays and a tiered octagonal turret with domed roof between
those at the Whitworth Street corner, and a very tall square
clock-tower, pilastered and banded, with a prominent cornice
and Baroque cupola. Large closely-spaced cross-windows to the
first 3 floors, coupled 2-light mullioned windows to the top
floor, all with elaborate terracotta surrounds including
twisted columns, pierced aprons (etc) and those at 2nd floor
with decorated segmental pediments. The corner element has a
round-headed doorway with richly-ornamented terracotta
surround carried up to 1st floor and finished with a toy-sized
fort; various small rectangular windows in the right-hand
side, and a mullioned and transomed window in the left side
tiered through 4 floors. Main entrance at base of tower in
single-storey 3-bay porch of white granite in Baroque style,
with round-headed central arch in projected surround of
engaged Tuscan semi-columns, broken segmental pediment (etc),
flanked by square-headed openings with Ionic columns, and
swagged bulls-eye windows and balustraded parapets above.
Interior: inside porch, enclosed forecourt surrounded by
massive arcades and colonnades in buff glazed terracotta, with
doorways, niches (etc) in Baroque style; other parts believed
to be of similar quality, but not inspected. Very conspicuous
landmark, and probably the apogee of "Manchester style" late
C19 commercial architecture.
Listing NGR: SJ8414597533
Selected Sources
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details
Map
National Grid Reference: SJ 84145 97533
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1271429.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for the download to complete.
© Crown Copyright and database right 2018. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.
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This copy shows the entry on 29-Mar-2024 at 10:26:04.