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AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE

AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE, UPPER VILLIERS STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1252655
Date first listed:: 22-Mar-1994
List Entry Name:: AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE
Statutory Address:: AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE, UPPER VILLIERS STREET

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.

Date:: 2005-08-27
Reference:: IOE01/14576/14
Rights:: © Mr Peter Garratt. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1252655
Date first listed:: 22-Mar-1994
List Entry Name:: AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE
Statutory Address 1:: AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE, UPPER VILLIERS STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: AUTOMOTIVE HOUSE, UPPER VILLIERS STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: City of Wolverhampton (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SO9123297104

Details

SO 99 NW WOLVERHAMPTON UPPER VILLIERS STREET

895-1/5/10010 Automotive House

II

Car factory , now works, and empty at the time of inspection. 1905-6, with minor late C20 alterations. By Joseph Lavender, F.R.I.B.A., for the Sunbeam Motor Car Company, and incorporating the site of the first workshop in which a Sunbeam motor car was produced. Red brick with painted dressings beneath a Welsh-slated roof 3-storey street frontage office and showroom range, with 4 bay single storey north-light workshop range behind. North-west elevation; 3 storeys, 11 bays, with 3-bay central entry defined by full-height pilasters, the centre bay with a diminutive pediment, and slightly advanced. Double doorway with panelled doors below keyed semi-circular head, all beneath a segmental pediment. The bays either side of the doorway each have a 3-light window, originally comprised of 3 sash windows, some now altered, beneath a segmental brick arch with an advanced keyblock which links with a sloping string course. Above, at first and second floor levels are coupled sash windows with sma1l-paned upper sashes. This pattern is repeated in each of the 2 bays flanking the entrance bays. The 2 bays at either end of the frontage range sit beneath a broad coped gable with a keyed semi circular arched window above the window head cornice, matching that of the entrance bay. The north-east end bay has full height double doors which formerly led into a covered yard. 4 bays of north light sheds to rear with strutted trusses supporting a ridge beam. Strutted king post trusses to 3-storey range. Original plans and elevations, signed by the architect and dated 31 Jan. 1905 survive. Automotive House was the first purpose-built works of the Sunbeam Motor Car Company, and one of the earliest car factories in England.

Listing NGR: SO9123297104

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 435695
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.