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

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Date:: 2007-08-02
Reference:: IOE01/16566/11
Rights:: © Mr J M Pickering. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official 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

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:: 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.