Building record MDO45029 - 104 St Mary Street, Weymouth

Shop built or rebuilt in 1924. The building is of red brick with an ashlar, possibly Portland stone facing to the street front which is in an Edwardian freestyle. It is a small two bay building that is rectangular in plan, with two storeys and an attic. The pitched roof which has plain clay tiles is set behind a crenallated parapet that rises to a shaped gable to the left hand bay. The principal (east) elevation is an asymmetrical composition that is a prominent and attractively-detailed component to St Mary Street. The façade, possibly to an older building shown on the 1883 Ordnance Survey map, is notable for its Arts and Crafts and free late Gothic influences. The modern shop front is set within a surround of plain glazed tiles and is in three sections with large plate glass windows to either side of a central doorway.

The building is located within Weymouth's main pedestrianised shopping street. A building with a similar footprint to the existing shop is depicted on this plot on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1883. It would appear that the building was either rebuilt or re-fronted in 1924; the date inscribed on the rainwater heads. The current occupants, Meechs Menswear, took over the premises in 1972.

The building is of red brick with an ashlar, possibly Portland stone facing to the street front which is in an Edwardian freestyle. It is a small two bay building that is rectangular in plan, with two storeys and an attic. The pitched roof which has plain clay tiles is set behind a crenallated parapet that rises to a shaped gable to the left hand bay.

EXTERIOR: The principal (east) elevation is an asymmetrical composition that is a prominent and attractively-detailed component to St Mary Street. The façade, possibly to an older building, is notable for its Arts and Crafts and free late Gothic influences. The modern shop front is set within a surround of plain glazed tiles and is in three sections with large plate glass windows to either side of a central doorway. There is a continuous string course above, and at first floor a four-light mullioned and transomed square bay with carved Tudor rose decoration set in square panels above the window and a grotesque gargoyle ornament to each upper corner of the bay. To the right is a cross window with a hoodmould and a further decorative Tudor rose in relief above. The first floor windows are flanked by cast iron rainwater heads and down pipes. The former are inscribed `1924¿ and have stone gargoyle spouts above. The shaped gable has a roundel window with a foliated keystone and is surmounted by a sceptre finial. Set behind the parapet is a dormer window with moulded surrounds that rise to finials.

INTERIOR: The entire ground floor is occupied by the shop. Sections of the party wall with the adjacent premises, 103 St Mary Street, have been removed to create a large floor area and there is a suspended ceiling. A plain timber staircase at the rear of the shop leads to the upper floors (formerly accommodation) which are used for storage. The roof timbers comprise of simple collared rafters with a single row of purlins.

Due to the large number of early 20th century commercial shop premises that survive nationally greater selectivity is required when assessing a building of this type and date for inclusion on the statutory list. Particular attention is paid to the level and nature of alteration that has been incurred, the survival of a good shop front and internal fittings of interest, and group value.

104 St Mary Street is of some architectural interest for the striking and lively treatment of its façade which represents a late flourish of Edwardian freestyle with Gothic and Arts and Crafts elements. It has good quality stone decoration in a style that is untypical for this area of Weymouth. The detailing is a pleasing feature but the shop front itself is modern. An interior of outstanding interest and completeness is the usual justification for the listing of a shop which retains its original or designed external qualities. There are no internal features of interest to strengthen the case for listing: the ground floor has been altered and lacks contemporary fittings such as shelving and counters, and the upper floors are of no historic interest. Internally, it thus lacks overall coherence as a 1920s shop with accommodation above.

In this instance, due to the late date of the building and the modest quality of the interior, 104 St Mary Street is not of the very high quality necessary to fulfil the exacting criteria for buildings of the inter-war period. The front elevation of this building makes a prominent contribution to the streetscape and it appears compatible with adjacent buildings in terms of mass and height, but its design is considered to be somewhat old fashioned for the 1920s. Although of very clear local interest for its characterful façade and its contribution to the area, which is recognised through its inclusion in a Conservation Area, 104 St Mary Street falls below the benchmark for listing. (1)

<1> English Heritage, English Heritage Listing File, 166686 (Scheduling record). SDO17502.

Adviser's report on case 166686 in file 505651/001.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1502530 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 12 2022 11:01AM