Building Name

Rochdale Vintners Company Limited, Newgate, Rochdale

Date
1909 - 1911
District/Town
Rochdale
County/Country
GMCA, England
Client
Rochdale Vintners Company Limited
Work
New build
Listed
Grade II

 

Rochdale Vintners Co Limited was formed in 1893 and by 1909 had been taken over by Yates Wine Lodge in which year Peter Yates was chairman of the Vintners Company. In that year Rochdale Corporation determined to build a new street which would affect the Vintners Company’s property. By way of compensation the company were offered additional land and the opportunity to have a frontage on the new street.

ROCHDALE AND A WINE LODGE - A new street is to be constructed by the Corporation of Rochdale in the centre of the town. It will run from Lord Street by the new Hippodrome to a point opposite the Town Hall over the river bridge, the widening of which is another part of the same improvement scheme. The street will be a tram route and will bring the Spotland cars to the centre of the town. A detached building, which is used as a bottling stores by Yates Wine Lodge stands in the way of the new street. The Corporation have agreed to buy this building, and the terms are understood to be that the Wine Lodge shall receive 150 yards of land in exchange for 78 yards which it gives up, and that Corporation shall pay the proprietors £50 towards legal expenses and half the sum of £500 which the licensing magistrates ordered to be paid to the compensation fund in return for permission to make enlargements and alterations. These enlargements to the Lodge, which include a new frontage in the new street opposite the Hippodrome, have evoked a protest which is not confined to temperance party or to the members of any one religious denomination. [Manchester Guardian 21 April 1909 page 10]

Despite widespread objection, the construction of the Newgate building was progressed. Dating from 1911 it connected with the former Yates Wine Lodge (the Blue Bell) at 3-5 Yorkshire Street and provides a rare example of new licensed premises built during the Edwardian period. The single-storey elevation to Newgate is in an Edwardian Baroque style. Five bays with gables over the two end bays and central three. Semi-circular headed window and door openings with keystones and leaded glass. Pilasters rise from corbels at impost level. "Rochdale Vintners Wine Co. Ltd." Appears on the frieze with cornice above. Semi-circular pediments to each gable with elaborate cartouches the central one engraved "Wine Lodge 1911" and having a grapevine surround.