Description

LEEDS

SE2933SE QUEBEC STREET
714-1/77/329 (South West side)
22/03/74 No.9
Quebec House
(Formerly Listed as:
QUEBEC STREET
No.9
National Employers House)

GV II

Leeds County Liberal Club, now offices with basement
restaurant. 1890. By Chorley and Connon. Pinkish red brick;
terracotta made by the firm of JC Edwards, Ruabon; slate roof,
wrought-iron gates.
4 storeys with basement and attic, 3 bays with semi-octagonal
angle tower on right: open 1st floor with Ionic columns,
arcaded 3rd floor and short tiled spire with heavy brackets to
cornice.
Quebec Street frontage: ground-floor segmental-arch windows
with moulded terracotta apron panels and arched doorway left
with open segmental pediment on paired brackets, richly
ornamented tympanum, the name 'LEEDS COUNTY LIBERAL CLUB'
moulded in relief, spandrels and brackets. 1st floor:
round-arch windows and Ionic columns in antis supporting
entablature, the apron panels, bases of column shafts and
frieze in the entablature all have richly-moulded terracotta
panels. Modillion cornice. Top 2 storeys and attics: the
centre bay is slightly recessed; outer bays project slightly
with large Dutch gables; panels of brick banded with
terracotta. Rear: plainer, almost semicircular bay right with
elaborate 5-light stained-glass window.
INTERIOR: entrance steps rebuilt; flanking terracotta
foundation stone with coat of arms and motto, 'PALHAM QUI
MERUIT FERAT' and inscription: 'LAID BY/ SIR JAMES KITSON
BART/ 12th MARCH 1890'. Art Nouveau inspired 2-leaf
wrought-iron gates have wavy dog bars, bars with tendrils and
scrolls. Staircase hall has a wide semicircular panelled stair
with square-section balusters and open-work finials; carved
wooden lions hold wrought-iron lamp standards. Moulded plaster
ceiling to landing.
The staircase window of 5 lights has stained glass depicting
town coats of arms and heraldic motifs, including those of
Hull, Kingston, Scarborough, Ripon and Leeds.
James Kitson (1835-1911) was an industrial magnate and notable
figure in the Liberal Party, reorganising and for many years

the central power in it; he became first Baron Airedale in
1907.
The firm of JC Edwards of The Rhos Glazed Brick and Trefynant
Fireclay Works, Pen-y-Bont, supplied the bricks and terracotta
for several city centre buildings, characterised by a bright
red finish, including the Hotel Metropole, King Street (qv).
(The Rhos Glazed Brick and Trefynant Fireclay Works,
Pen-y-Bont: Catalogue of buildings in Leeds ..: 1892-).

Listing NGR: SE2979033469

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Quebecs Hotel, Leeds at Wikipedia
• Quebecs Hotel, Leeds official website
• Wikidata Q7269868

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Old House Care and Repair
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  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)