The shipping company Ismay, Imrie and Company, later the White Star Line, commissioned Richard Norman Shaw to design their office block in James Street. Designed in collaboration with the Liverpool architect, J Francis Doyle, the building is based on Shaw's earlier design for Scotland Yard with brick and Portland stone bands and was built in 1896-98. It is of a symmetrical design comprising six-storeys of varying heights plus attics and basement. The basement and ground floor are of ashlar with rusticated dressings whilst the upper storeys are of brick with bands of Portland stone. The White Star Line, which was later amalgamated with Cunard, moved from its former office in nearby Water Street and the company's headquarters remained at James Street until 1927. On the morning of the Titanic disaster, the building was besieged by the press and distraught relatives of passengers. Frantic employees called down the latest news, including the lists of the dead, from the lower balconies as they were too intimidated by the angry crowd below to approach them on ground level.

Period

Post-Medieval (1540 - 1901)

Period comments

Built 1986-98

The earliest date of the feature, as a year, if known

1896

The latest date of the feature, as a year, if known

1898

Monument Type - Broad

OFFICE

Monument Type - Narrow

Monument Description

Evidence Type - Broad

Evidence Type - Narrow

Evidence Description

Object Type - Broad

Object Type - Narrow

Object Description

Other records:

NRHE Number

67614

NT HBSMR Number

Unknown

HER Event Number

Unknown

External Link

None

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