Phoenix Fire Insurance Building. Cooper Street/Lloyd Street, Manchester

NEW BUILDINGS FOE THE PHCENIX FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, MANCHESTER. The building shown in the accompanying plate is now in course of erection. It stands on the site of the old premises of the company at the corner of Cooper and Lloyd streets, immediately opposite to the south side of the new town-hall. In consequence, however, of the corporation deciding to widen Cooper-street at this point, in order to show off that part of the town-hall to better advantage, the Phoenix building has had to be set back about 15 ft., and the corner rounded, as shown on the plan. The fronts are of Darley Dale stone, with bands of red Mansfield, while the side elevation next Chapel-street is faced with red stocks. The rest of the walls are of common bricks. The main entrance is for the use of the company's offices, which are in that part of the ground- floor facing Lloyd-street. They consist of a large public office and two private ones, with accommodation for safe and lavatories. The remaining portion of the building, both on the ground floor and on the other floors, is intended to be let off for offices, and for these an entrance is provided in Cooper-street. The staircase is of wood, and well lighted. Conveniences for the offices are placed so as to be entered from off the staircase about midway in each flight. The lobbies are to be laid with ornamental tiles, and the arcading in the staircase-hall has red Mansfield shafts, with Bath-stone caps and tympanum, and Darley Dale bases; the parapet there being also of Darley Dale. The whole of the work is contracted for by Messrs. T. Clay & Sons, of Manchester, with Messrs. Ellis & Hinchliffe as sub-contractors for the mason's work. The contract amounts to about £7,000. Mr. John Lowe, Manchester, is the architect. [Builder 18 October 1873 Page 849]

Reference           Builder 18 October 1873 Page 849 with plan and illustration