Fountain Street & Viaduct Street: Motor Car and Carriage Works

The plans related to the large showroom and workshop which stood at the junction of Viadct and Fountain Streets; the site was later occupied by Hillards, later Tesco. Rippon Bros already had workshops on the site but the new building significantly enlarged their presence and capacity. It probably represents the company's success and the growing importance of car body work to Rippon Bros. The elevation of the three storey building to Viaduct Street and Fountain Street was treated as whole.The use of a cast iron (?) frame supported on cast iron colummns, not unlike those used in mill buildings allowed the building to be open and without internal supporting walls. Large windows were essential to the ground and first floor showrooms, as well as the workshops. Made up of sixteen bays, each 13 feet wide, with glass occupying the full width.The height of the windows decreased proportionately on the first and second floors. Each bay was separated by stone piers 2 feet 6 inches wide. Roofed in four parallel spans, the north face of which was glazed .