Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower
Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower, 60 King 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:
- 1388360
- Date first listed:
- 18-Jan-1949
- List Entry Name:
- Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower
- Statutory Address:
- Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower, 60 King Street
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-08-02
- Reference:
- IOE01/16566/11
- Rights:
- © Mr J M Pickering. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1388360
- Date first listed:
- 18-Jan-1949
- List Entry Name:
- Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower
- Statutory Address 1:
- Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower, 60 King Street
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower, 60 King Street
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cheshire East (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Knutsford
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ 75238 78637
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 14 March 2023 to update the building materials in the description and to reformat the text to current standards
SJ7478
792-1/3/47
KNUTSFORD
KING STREET (West side)
No.60
Former Kings Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower
18/01/49
GV
II*
Coffee house and council offices, incorporating Gaskell Memorial tower, now restaurant. 1907-1908. By W Longworth. For Richard Harding Watt. Coursed and squared buff sandstone rubble with flat roofs.
STYLE: Eclectic Italianate.
PLAN: asymmetrical with council chamber forming main range, the Gaskell Memorial tower projecting forward of this to the left, the entrance block of the former coffee house projecting to the right, leaving a small courtyard between them. Screen wall to courtyard to right, with pantiled roof above. Four-window range of coffee house and former ballroom facing on to courtyard, which is closed to the rear by screen of Roman Doric columns.
EXTERIOR: main entrance at corner of coffee house block, in recessed porch. The angle is carried on an octagonal column carrying inscriptions in a variety of typography, and richly carved low relief bands. Oriel window alongside with small panes, and three-windows to first floor below stepped parapet.
Tower to left with external stair, tiny bow window to ground floor, and upper window divided by a heavy transom. Domed cap carried on open lantern. Small courtyard recessed beyond tower, with windows of council offices in rear range. Gaskell Memorial Tower closes this central courtyard to the left. Its white stone changes to yellow sandstone above the first floor. Recessed bow window to ground floor, and bust in niche to first floor. Square oriel window offset above. Randomly projecting blocks, and bronze bust on inner face. Tower is in white stone above this and the square oriel to the front. Inscriptions above and below the bust. Arcaded windows to upper storey, and open upper stage articulated by pilasters. Gateway to passage adjoins tower to left, with pantiled floor above archway.
INTERIOR: the internal planning remains substantially unaltered, and much of the original interior design survives, including two fire surrounds with copper hoods to ground floor, Boarded and panelled walling in lower rooms and former council chamber, and a mural in the former coffee house.
An interesting composition, the architect clearly expressing awareness of the bold work of other Edwardian Free Style contemporaries, most notably Holden.
Listing NGR: SJ7523878637
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 476368
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 21-Jun-2026 at 22:08:51.
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All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.