Description

The following building shall be added:-

GREAT WEST ROAD
TQ 1878 & TQ 1978
(South side)
16/200
Smithkline Beecham House
including Midland Bank

GV II

Factory; now company headquarters and offices, and bank. East wing 1936 by
G A Warren; otherwise 1937-42 by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners; for
Simmonds Aerocessories. 1947 converted into offices for British Overseas
Aircraft Corporation; further alterations 1955-6 and 1960 by R Gallanaugh
for Beechams and subsequently. Pale brick in Flemish bond with concrete
and ashlar plinth; sill and lintel bands; window jambs; architraves; fins
to tower and flanking blocks; upper storey of tower; and parapets.
Flat concrete roofs.

Central 11-storey tower with lower 3-storey flanking blocks set slightly
forward and overlapping front corners of tower. Long side wings of 2 storeys
and basement which terminate in circular entrance towers (not much taller
than wings) and then return rearwards.

Entrance elevation; entrance across full-width of tower has late C20 glazinq,
fascia, balconied windows over and deep band linking the 2 flanking blocks.
Tower has 3-light window with original metal glazing bars, rising to
8th floor; 9th floor fronted by figure of a airman with eagle on shoulder, on
stand; indented parapet; returns of tower have 9-light similar windows with
9 windows to top floor, some of which have replacement glazing; rear has
plainer 3-light window with flanking narrow windows on each floor; chimney.
Blocks flanking tower each have a full-height 5-light window to front,
5 plainer windows to rear and 9 to returns retaining original glazing bars
except to lower floors at rear. Side wings on each floor have near-
continuous windows separated by wide jambs, only the basement windows
retaining original glazing bars; curved corners at junctions with end
entrance towers. These each have steps up to a double door with bowed columns
and hood; window above; and are flanked by fins and tall narrow windows.
Each wing return has a plainer entrance at east end. Later wing extensions
and additions to rear of wings and to tower. Interior: tower retains
original stair on right hand side with marbled lobby and keyed round archway
on 2nd floor, marbled lift lobby to lst floor on left side and in reception
area; otherwise interior is considerably altered.

Listing NGR: TQ1814078276

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 16 February 2017.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26643323

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

• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)