Winter’s (27-35 Little Underbank)
The iconic building with its automated clock and figures has been fully restored
The History
The building was originally Winters Jewellers- opened in 1890 by Jacob Winter. The esteemed jewellers sold fine jewellery and repairs. The building became a pub, managed by Manchester brewery Joseph Holt, which closed in 2018 and acquired by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. The original clock, which is still on the building, features a Soldier, Sailor and ‘Father Time’, which was manufactured by the Sainsbury Brothers who were established in 1734 in Walthamstow. The clock is one of only two non-secular automaton clocks in the country. Over the past six months, the clock has undergone a painstaking restoration by specialists at The Cumbria Clock Company. This has involved dismantling the clock and cleaning and repairing all of the components off-site before reinstating them at the historic building.
The three figures that make the clock so iconic – a Soldier, Sailor, and ‘Father Time’, has also been refurbished in a palate of vivid colours,staying true to the original colours which have faded over the years. The iconic building has reopened as Bistro Marc at Winter’s in Spring 2022, a classy French Bistro in the heart of the Underbanks.
The Grant
The Proposed Works
Given its prominence on the street and its Grade II listing, 23-27 Little Underbank was identified as a high priority building as part of the Rediscovering the Underbanks regeneration project. Below is a brief summary of the works:
Building repair and maintenance
- External and internal masonry repairs including structural repairs, repointing, patch replacement and rebuild of parapet
- Replacement and new rainwater goods
- Repointing to brickwork
Reinstatement of architectural details
- Reinstate the historic shopfront and repair of windows to former state
- Removal of clock for repair and reinstatement
The Grant Process
An expression of interest in the grant was submitted by the building owners at the end of 2020, followed by architectural drawings, a planning application and listed building consent for the redevelopment. Once these documents were approved, the project then went out to tender.
In February 2021, the project Partnership Board met to award the contract. The partnership board awarded the contract to H H Smith.
The grant funding agreement for 23-27 Little Underbank was formally signed and executed in X with work starting on site in X.
Following Covid-related delays and unexpected issues, such as X a request was submitted to National Lottery Heritage Fund for additional funding from the contingency budget and the ask was approved.
A total of X claims were received and paid out to the grantee.
The practical completion certificate was received in December 2021.
The Team
The Architects
Kelsall Architects are a local RIBA charted architects practice.
In their designs, the architects took the opportunity to improve the energy performance of 13 Little Underbank by internally insulating the walls and roof, and upgrading the performance of the windows, whilst still retaining the historic character of the building.
Following its restoration, the firm relocated to the second floor of 13 Little Underbank in Mustard, a new co-working space.
Their experience on 13 Little Underbank has also placed the architects in good stead to work on other restoration projects. Kelsall Architects have since been appointed to work on numerous capital projects in the Underbanks.
The Contractors
Maysand are a masonry and building conservation specialist based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They were awarded the building contract for 13 Little Underbank in March 2020 as they were deemed to offer the best value and technical capabilities.
Maysand also held a strong track record in delivering heritage schemes including restoration of Chester City Walls, the Port of Liverpool and Blackpool Tower.
Due to Covid-19 related delays, Maysand started on site slightly later than anticipated, in August 2020. The restoration and certificate of completion was issued in April 2021.
The Restoration
The Shopfront
When the arches were revealed behind the old shop signage, there was some doubt as to whether they were true arches, making it difficult to measure for the glass infills. To solve this, a 3D laser scan was used to find the exact size and shape of the arches. Accurate to 2mm, the laser revealed the arches are almost perfectly round.
The Stonework
Using their expertise in masonry, Maysand were able to faithfully reinstate the original shopfront. To match the existing façade on 13 Little Underbank, ‘Fletcher Bank’ stone was installed and a mixture of machine detailing and hand sculpting was then used to dress the stone with a punched finish to give it an authentic look.
The Roof
Following the removal of the roof for repairs, it emerged that the joists were uneven, impacting drainage. The joists were then levelled, before a new roof deck and covering was laid. The parapet was also replaced, making the flat roof safer, and opening up a wealth of future opportunities to use the roof space.
The Windows
Windows on the first floor were repainted. However, due to their poor condition, the windows on the second floor had to be removed and were replaced with slimline double glazing. The slimline frames closely match traditional timber windows and allow natural light to flood into the building, while being more energy efficient. Stone cills on some of the windows were also replaced due to their condition.
The Stairs
As part of the restoration works, the soffits, finishes and handrail in the stairwell were all repaired. Rubbish was also removed from the gaps between 13 Little Underbank and St. Petersgate Bridge after decades of build-up. Wire mesh was then inserted to prevent this reoccurring again. The lighting in the stairwell is also set to be replaced with heritage-style LED lanterns to match others within the Underbanks area.
The Rainwater Goods
Much of the rainwater goods on 13 Little Underbank were either repaired or replaced during the restoration. Water is often the main agent of decay in historic buildings and after corroding for years, the rainwater pipes on the building had resulted in rusting and damp. Heritage-style rainwater goods were chosen to replace those that become severely damaged to remain true to the historic character of the building.
The Repointing
A lime mortar mix containing aggregate was used to repoint 13 Little Underbank. While lime mortar is traditionally used in the conservation of buildings to match historic mortar, the aggregate gives volume, stability and resistance to wear and erosion. The mortar used was also colour matched to the existing pointing on the front elevation.
The Floorboards
During the interior restoration of 13 Little Underbank, the top floorboards were removed to reveal the original blackened floor beneath. The original floor was then lifted and levelled, before being re-laid, lightly sanded and oiled. The historic floor has since become a key feature of the second floor co-working space called Mustard.
The Tunnel
After stripping out the bathroom fittings, a brick-lined hole approximately 900mm wide and 3m deep was discovered. After lowering a camera down, the hole appeared to turn a corner and become a tunnel which may link to the building’s distillery past. A hatch has been fitted over the tunnel so that this can be explored at a later date…