76-88 Coronation Building (Leicester)

 invisible, historical building, Grade II Listed (UK)

Formerly known as 'The Singer Building' Most of the building was occupied as the Midland headquarters and main showroom of the Singer Sewing Machine Co from 1904 to c 1965. It is a rare and well preserved example of an Edwardian commercial property decorated with an Art Nouveau style faience facade.
Coronation Buildings were designed by the Leicester architect Arthur Wakerley (a prominent local architect, developer, philanthropist and politician) and built between 1902 and 1904. The building is surmounted by a great glass barrel-vaulted roof, below which rows of pictorial tiles depict ships in full sail. In an amazing exercise in patriotic fervour, above the first floor windows is a frieze of cartouches, suspended by pretend chains, showing animals under flags representing parts of the world under British control. There is a camel for Egypt, a kangaroo for Australia, a polar bear for Canada, a tiger for Burma, an elephant for India, and a kiwi for New Zealand.

High Street
Leicester
Leicestershire
LE1 4JB