The central bay featured a segmentally-headed opening with a hood mould and a keystone flanked by short Corinthian order pilasters and brackets supporting a cornice and a wrought iron balcony.

The heads of the first floor windows contained stone carvings by the sculptor, James Forsyth, depicting musical instruments, a ship's anchor, a wheatsheaf, fine arts and a phoenix.

[6] It was subsequently used as a community events venue and hosted lectures by the local school of art as well as performances by visiting amateur and professional theatrical companies.

[7] It was used as a reception centre for evacuees, before hosted a boxing match to raise money for Wings for Victory Week in May 1943, during the Second World War.

[9] It went on to become a popular concert venue: the locally-born drummer, Cozy Powell, performed there with rock band, The Corals, on a weekly basis in the mid-1960s.