Conservation Area: Palmyra Square (Warrington) Conservation Area (064)

Queens Gardens lie at the centre of the Palmyra Square Conservation Area and the buildings surrounding it were laid out in two distinct stages, and this is reflected in their character. The southern half of the square dates from the mid nineteenth century and comprises mainly two storey terraced houses, long since converted to office accommodation. It is dominated visually by the bulk of public buildings in the form of the former Technical College, the Parr Hall and the former Head Post Office and complimented in scale by the increase in height of the terraces here, which are three storeys high, in contrast to the more domestic two storeys to the north. The northern half was laid out at a later date of about 1890 and shows a radical change in scale of building. The extension made in 1985 forms a link between Palmyra Square and the Georgian group of properties at Stanley Street. The buildings comprise a mixture of former town dwellings now converted to offices, interspersed with individual buildings of more substantial character, notably the former School of Art, St Austins Chambers, Emanuel Church and the former British Legion Club. It is noteworthy for its brickwork detailing and pleasing scale, and trees form an important feature along Bold Street as do those in the wooded forecourt of limes and poplars to the cobbled approach road to the Georgian town houses in Stanley Street. The Museum and Library building, forming part of the original designated conservation area, is an important feature on the crossroads junction of Bold Street and Museum Street - St Austins Lane, its bulk being offset by the open former bowling green of the British Legion Club. The extensions made in 1995 encompass parts of Wilson Patten Street, Winmarleigh Street and an area on the corner of Cairo Street/St Austins Lane. This incorporates properties again largely dating from the latter half of the century and of a similar scale, and also built of brick with slate roofs and on a regular grid pattern.