Shop, 88 Portland Street, Manchester

MANCHESTER - A shop in Portland-street, Manchester, has been rebuilt for Mr. William Armstrong. The front is of tooled Spinkwell stone; the shop door window frame and bressummner are of English oak, the rest of the woodwork of stained pitch-pine; the roof and sides and front of the dormer are covered with red tiles; the main cornice is cement panels, with stamped and coloured enrichments. The work has been executed by Mr. Josh. Thompson, builder, of Manchester, under the direction of the architect, Mr. G. H. Goldsmith, 63, Faulkner-street, Manchester. [Building News 2 November 1877 page 446]

PORTLAND STREET - These premises have lately been rebuilt for Mr. William Armstrong, stationer and printer. The new front is of tooled Spinkwell stone; the shop bressummer, window, and door are of English oak; the remainder of the woodwork is of pitch pine, and the roof covered with red Staffordshire tiles. The cornice is formed of wood brackets, with a plaster core, having stamped and coloured enrichments. The work has been completed in a most satisfactory manner by Mr. Josh. Thompson, builder, of City-road, Manchester, under the direction of the architect, Mr. G. H. Goldsmith, 63, Faulkner-street, Manchester. [The British Architect, 14 Dec 1877, p292] 

The shop is existent, now “Portland Plaice,” a fish and chip shop, (not RIBA headquarters), and stands next to the Circus Tavern.

Reference    Building News 2 November 1877 page 446
Reference    The British Architect, 14 Dec 1877, page 292