Reasons for Designation
Yes List/Amend
Details
679/0/10339 WOOLSHOPS
18-MAY-10 HALIFAX
13-27
Formerly included on the list as:
446317 25 Woolshops, Grade II
446318 27 and 29 Woolshops, Grade II
446319 31-39 (odd) Woolshops, Grade II
GV II
Shops, of early C18 date, all of stone, with either two or three storeys, and with slate or stone slate roofs.
No 13 has three storeys, with a modern shop front at ground level, three tall one-over-one sashes at first floor and three casement windows at second floor. The upper floor windows all have plain stone facings and there is a second floor band. To the left is a pilaster rising to a large kneeler, while on the right side the pilaster has been removed though the kneeler remains. The right hand gable is slightly raised and there is a stone ridge stack at the right end. To the rear the ground floor has a door to the right and a single small window. The first floor has three sets of mullioned and transomed windows, with six lights to right and left, and four to the centre. On the second floor is a five-light mullioned window towards the left of the elevation. There are quoins on the rear left side (east), and the building is butted up to a late C20 building to the west. The interior is not of special interest.
Nos 15 and 17 are a single build of two storeys, adjoining No 13 to the west. The front consists of two modern shop fronts to the ground floor, the narrower left hand (western, No 15) occupying the position of a former carriage entrance. There are five first floor one-over-one sash windows, one of which is over the former carriage entrance and the others above the right hand shop (No 17). Above is a parapet in stone, the base of which is at the same level as the band on No 13. An inscribed stone set into it bears the letters N. I. M. and the date 1729. To the right side are raised quoins. To the rear No 15 has a first floor window with modern glazing, and an external staircase leading to an entrance to the left. On the ground floor are two doorways: much of this is a modern rebuild. The rear of No 17 extends out into a long two-storey wing with modern openings, pitched roof and end stack. The modern rebuilds and interiors are not of special interest.
The range from No 19 to No 27 (odd numbers) has three shop units to the left (west) and two to the right (east) of an arched carriage entrance with ashlar dressings and keystone. They are set back slightly from No 17 and are slightly lower. There are raised quoins to the left end and a pilaster to the right end carrying a raised gable end. There are pilasters also to either side of the carriage entrance, above which is a scrolled decoration flanking ashlar blocks. Above the modern shop fronts to the left are seven one-over-one sash windows evenly spaced, in plain surrounds, with a further similar window above the carriage entrance. To the right there are three storeys, though the building is the same height. The ground floor has two modern shop fronts with two large one-over-one sashes above. Two two-light stone mullioned windows, possibly formerly four-light, are above a second floor band and immediately below the eaves line. To the rear, Nos 19 to 21 have similar arrangements of entrance and windows, all modern rebuilds. The rear of No 25 has a modern two-storey extension, while No 27 has modern ground floor entrances, a 10-light stone mullioned and transomed window at first-floor and a five-light stone mullioned window at second-floor level, all with plain stone dressings. The rebuilt rear elevations and modern interiors are not of special interest.
HISTORY: This group of buildings dates to the early/mid C18, the central block having a date stone of 1729. Woolshops was on a major route into Halifax in the medieval period, and in the C16 and C17 when Halifax was at the height of its prosperity this part of town was inhabited by wool merchants with living accommodation, workshops and warehousing. The establishment of the Piece Hall in 1779 concentrated the woollen cloth trade within its walls and the Woolshops area became less important. The later C19 and C20 saw decline and in 1931 the western end of the south side of the street was redeveloped and a number of buildings demolished. A redevelopment scheme of the 1970s proposed large scale demolition, and more buildings were lost, but the eventual scheme, completed in 1983, retained Nos 13 to 27 as well as establishing small shop units along much of the rest of the street.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION
Nos 13 to 27 Woolshops, Halifax, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architecture: they form an important group of early C18 urban buildings with surviving features of interest such as mullioned windows
* Historic interest: They are survivals from a period of growth and prosperity in the town and reflect the importance of Halifax in the woollen trade, especially as shown by surviving 'weavers' windows
* Intactness: despite some losses and alterations, a number of features of interest survive, including mullioned windows, date stone, decorative stonework and roof structures
