Warehouse, 49, Southwark Street, Borough

Southwark Street was laid out in 1864 by the Metropolitan Board of Works and the warehouse at No 49 was one of the earliest buildings erected along the street. It was designed by the Manchester architect, Ernest Bates in 1867 for his brother Robert Jackson Bates (1822-1907). In the 1881 census Robt J Bates was described as at cotton wool and wadding manufacturer employing 30 men and 2 boys.

The warehouse, standing at the junction of Southwark Street and Omeara Street, has a curved corner plan. It is of four storeys and basement, and comprises eight bays including the hoist bay. It is of stock brick with stone dressings and low-pitched slate roof. Windows on each floor are treated separately, those at first and second floor being recessed. The main entrance door on Southwark Street is flanked by two piers of Peterhead granite colonnettes with Corinthian capitals.  The four-panel double doors with pointed lights in the top panels. Recessed bay (Bay 8) on Omeara Street has doors on each floor for transmission of goods and has a recessed tower and projecting canopy to the fourth storey to shelters the hoist range.

In 1938 the building was occupied by the Radio Active Mineral Water Co. Now converted to offices.

WAREHOUSE, SOUTHWARK-STREET. - We this week give an illustration o£ a new warehouse, recently erected in Southwark street, for Mr R. J. Bates, of Little Knight Rider-street, Doctors' Commons. It consists o£ basement, ground, and three other floors. The material used is chiefly white brick, stone being only sparingly introduced, namely, in capitals and bases of piers, and principal doorway, which has double columns on each side, and stone head or tympanum. The windows are well recessed, the arches being o£ moulded brick, and double revealed. The front of the building is divided into eight bays. The principal entrance is in the first, and the one furthest from Southwark-street is recessed back for greater convenience, and has doors on the several floors for transmission of goods. This bay terminates above the cornice with a square tower, and has a pent roof projecting over the derrick, supported by framed brackets. Mr Ernest Bates, of Manchester and London, is the architect, and the cost has been about £3,000. [Building News 22 November 1867 page 810]

BOROUGH - for a warehouse in Southwark Street, Borough, for Mr R J Bates.  Mr E. Bates, architect. Tenders W Hunt £3,478, Dover £3,399; Lamble £3,367; Johnson £3,150; Thackiah £3,100; J Bennett £2,993; Mann £2,929; Myers and Sons £2,914; B E Nightingale£ 2,865; Hart £2,740. [Building News 15 February 1867 page vii - Entry appears twice under Borough and Southwark]

Reference    Building News 15 February 1867 page vii
Reference    Building News 22 November 1867 page 810 and illustrations plan, elevation and details.