Loughborough Art Deco Glossary

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Art Deco – a term which was retrospectively applied to a style of art and architecture that spanned the early 1900s to about 1940. To an extent, Art Deco was preceded by the Art Nouveau period, and the term was derived from an international exhibition, held in Paris, from April – November 1925, entitled the ‘L’Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes’. The Art Deco style features bold colours, and gold and chrome colours, geometric designs, chevrons, motifs like nudes, foliage, animals, sun’s rays, and with influences coming from Bauhaus and Cubism, Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, and Egypt.

Art Nouveau – is the term applied to an art and architectural style that was prevalent in Europe and the US, and featured flowing lines and curves, organic motifs, and influences from nature. The movement largely coincided with, and was influenced by a similar movement in Britain – the Arts and Craft Movement.

Arts and Craft Movement – this architectural and art style featured designs inspired by nature, but was based on traditional, handcrafting techniques, as a reaction against industrialisation and mass production. Craftsmen in this style that are familiar in our geographical area are Ernest Gimson, who designed a number of houses in the Charnwood Forest area including Stoneywell Cottage, has a permanent online exhibition associated with Leicester Museums and Galleries, and through his pupils left a permanent mark on the forerunner of Loughborough University, through the handicraft Unit. Arts and Crafts had a strong influence on Art Nouveau.

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Bakelite – is a synthetic material – a plastic made from formaldehyde and phenol – which was invented in 1907, and was used to make all sorts of products, including radio sets, beads, etc.. It is not recyclable by melting.

Balcony – first floor balconies are a common feature on our Art Deco buildings, but most are faux balconies, so not useable. The balcony on the former Ramada Inn (previously the King’s Head) on High Street, is a columned balcony, as it is framed by two columns. 

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Columns – see Pillars, Pilasters. For engaged pillars see Pilasters. For Barley sugar columns see Motifs - Barley sugar columns

Crittall, Francis Berrington – was an ironmonger in Braintree, Essex. His son, Francis Henry Crittall succeeded his father in the business, and began producing steel windows. During the First World War the Crittall factory made munitions, and shortly afterwards built houses specifically for their workers. The company began aluminium window frame production in 1950, and after a management buyout, the factory in Witham continues production.

Crittall, Francis Henry – son of the ironmonger, Francis Berrington Crittall, and responsible for the production of steel window frames. Succeeded by his son, Walter Francis Crittall in the 1920s.   

Crittall, Walter Francis (Mr Pink) – son of Francis Henry Crittall, and head of the Crittall company until his death in 1956. His family home was a stunning Art Deco building painted pink, and built in 1934 in Great Easton, Essex.

Crittall Windows – it all started from an ironmonger company begun by Francis Berrington Crittall in the mid-19th century in Braintree, Essex. Francis Henry Crittall took over in 1884 and started to make steel-framed windows. The company built houses for its workers, and produced munitions during the First World War, and contributed to the Second World War effort. Post-war they returned to making window frames from galvanised steel.

D

Deutsch, Oscar – Deutsch was the creator of the Odeon Cinema chain. His first cinema was built in 1928 at Brierley Hill near Dudley, and by 1933 there were 25 Odeon Cinemas, and by 1937 there were 250. Loughborough’s Odeon was designed by Arthur J. Price of the Harry Weedon architectural firm and built in 1936, its first manager being Clarence George Starkey.

Downpipe – the downpipe is the pipe into which rainwater is directed via a hopper. In the Art Deco period many of these would have been fashioned from metal, and many would have been square rather than round, as in the example from the former Rose and Crown pub on Baxter Gate, below. The downpipe on the side of the original Odeon, also on Baxter Gate, is attached with a metal clip which bears the initial of the manufacturers – Coltmans, of Loughborough. 

Drainpipe – see Downpipe

Duralumin – was developed in Germany and is an aluminium alloy comprising about 4% copper, and less than 4% of manganese.

E

L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, 1925, Paris. This world fair, held in Paris, ran from April to October 1925, and the twenty different countries taking part and the 15,000 exhibitors attracted about sixteen million visitors. The exhibition focussed on contemporary industrial and decorative art. It is after this exhibition that the Art Deco style takes its name, although this was applied retrospectively around 1966.

F

Faience tiles – a sturdy, easy-to-clean glazed terracotta tile. There are some superb examples on Loughborough buildings, which were created by the company known as Hathernware, originally started as the Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company, by George Hodson, the factory being close to Hathern railway station. Some of the Hathernware-clad buildings in Loughborough include the former Echo Offices on Swan Street, the former Baxter Tea Rooms on Baxter Gate, the former Beacon Bingo (previously The Odeon) also on Baxter Gate – see photograph - and the current Odeon (previously the Empire/New Empire/Essoldo/Class/Curzon/Reel) on Cattle Market.

Fascines – are bundles of sticks, and can be seen on the Echo Offices on Swan Street, and also on the former No.1 Branch Co-op building on Derby Road, where they are set vertically underneath each end of the ziggurat.

G

German Silver – see Nickel Silver

Glass – see also Crittall Windows, Stained Glass, Vita Glass, Windows

-          Block – glass bricks were two moulded pieces of glass annealed (heated, and then cooled very slowly) together, having a hollow centre. It became one of the hallmarks of the Streamline Moderne style from the 1930s

-          Pigmented structural glass is a combination of borax, cryolite, kaolinite, manganese, silica, felspar, and fluorspar, and is opaque. It was seen as a cheaper alternative to marble, although it was actually stronger than marble, impermeable to moisture, and easy to clean.

H

Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company – were based in Hathern and was started by George Hodson, who had come to Loughborough in 1863, from Willenhall where his family were lock makers, to survey the land at Beaumanor Hall. The company began making terracotta and bricks before turning to faience tiles, often known as Hathernware, which then became the company name

Hathernware is the name given to faience tiles, and was the name adopted by the Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company

Hodson, Frank - son of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, George – son of lock maker, Richard Hodson, of Willenhall. Came to Loughborough in 1863 to survey the land of the Beaumanor Estate, before becoming the Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector for Loughborough in 1866. He subsequently began an architectural firm with his brother James, and John Price, as well as the Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company, also with brother, James, in 1874. George designed the Fearon Hall, a building which stands as a memorial to Henry Fearon, Rector of Loughborough 1848-1884, and judged the architectural competition to choose the design for the public library, which was won by local architects, Barrowcliff and Allcock. In 1938, George’s company became Hathernware, and was run by his descendants, Walter Frederick, George Albert, James Herbert, and Frank, and later followed by George Norman, George Albert’s son.

Hodson, George Albert - son of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, George Norman – son of George Albert and grandson of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, James – brother of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, James Herbert - son of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, Richard – father of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hodson, Walter Frederick – son of George Hodson, the founder of Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company.

Hopper – the hopper is the container into which rainwater falls, and which channels the water down through the downpipe or drainpipe. Sometimes these are plain, but can also be decorated, possibly with initials, as in the photograph below where the PB represents Parrs Bank who were originally in this building on High Street from 1907, or the hopper might have a date, as on the Loughborough Arms pub on Baxter Gate, complete with anti-pigeon defences!

 

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Keystone – the stone that sits at the centre of an arch, or in the case of Art Deco, more usually at the centre, and highest point of the ziggurat. Often, there is some decorative motif attached to the keystone, and a good example from Loughborough is the Blacksmith’s Arms, which bears a circular motif containing an anvil, and blacksmithing tools, which are surrounded by the date, and four horseshoes. Below the Blacksmiths is a rather more plain example on 19-20 Baxter Gate

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M

Monel – was developed by the International Nickel Company, whose president was Ambrose Monell, but they weren’t allowed to call it Monell! It was a corrosion-resistant alloy, of two-thirds nickel to one-third copper. It was used for roofs, and for decorative touches, as it could be forged to create patterns.

Mosaics - small pieces of ceramics, or glass, cut to shape, and adhered to a solid background. This example is in the shape of a swag, albeit one-dimensional, and is on the building now occupied by the jewellers Francis and Gaye, previously Denhams, which is in the Art Nouveau style.  

Motifs

Barley sugar columns – a spiralling that looks a bit like a corkscrew. Are there any such columns in Loughborough? There are certainly string courses composed in this style, and the former Echo Offices on Swan Street has a vertical example

Chevrons - a group of arrowheads, pointing in any direction, either incised, or raised. The first example below is of three-dimensional chevrons, which can be seen on Baxter Gate on the building that was most recently known as Revolution, but was previously the Conservative Club, and before that, the Constitutional Club. The second example on Peter's Pizzas on Baxter Gate, shows chevrons on the Keystone, which are not three-dimensional, but are raised from the flat surface, looking almost like a needlework stitch.

English roses – good examples on many of Loughborough’s buildings. Here’s one from what was recently Baxter’s Tea Rooms, previously Delice Café, a Caribbean Restaurant, an IT centre, and originally London Tailoring

Fans – possibly an example on the front of the former Poundstretcher building on High Street, but is perhaps more like a sunburst?

Feathers – it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish between a plume of feathers and shells when they are often set high up on buildings. Here’s a couple of examples of what are probably feathers, firstly on the former Echo offices on Swan Street, and secondly on what is now Caffe Nero in Market Place

Horns - these are often ram's horns, associated with the Egyptian goddess, Ammon. The example pictured appears above the balconies on the former Ramada Inn (previously the King’s Head). 

Lions – motifs of individual lion’s heads appear on several buildings, including the German Doner Kebab shop, formerly Burtons, and the former Echo Offices on Swan Street

Lotus flowers / columns – a stunning pair of Lotus columns sit aside the recessed entrance of the former Echo Offices on Swan Street. Sadly, one of these was damaged by a vehicle, and both columns of the pair have been protected by wooden covering since 2010. Lotus window columns can also be seen on the Caffe Nero building in Market Place.

Shells – shells or peacock feathers? One of a pair on the top of the lower bays on Merkur Slots, Swan Street

Shields

Sunburst – see also above example under Fans

Swag - a decorative design that looks a little like a pelmet above hanging curtains, pictured on Lloyds Bank

Torches – there are some very good examples on the corners of the Blacksmiths Arms, Ward’s End

   

Twisted rope – see Barley sugar columns

Waves – some good examples on what is now Merkur Slots (previously Showboat / Thomas Automatics) on Swan Street, and above the windows on the former Ramada Inn (previously the King's Head)

Wheat sheaves – a couple of lovely examples on the German Doner Kebab shop, formerly Burtons, on Market Place

Wings

N

Nickel Silver – is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy that contains no silver and a low percentage of nickel! Originated in China in the 17th century. Also known as white brass and German silver. It became popular in the States in the 1920s where it was used as a cheaper alternative to silver for decorative grilles and panels, or railings, and lift doors. Appears silvery-white and is quite resistant to corrosion because of its relatively high copper content (between 60% and 75%). The 5% to 20% nickel content was visually appealing, while the zinc content, also between 5% and 20% made it stronger by lowering the melting point.

Nirosta – this was a metal alloy developed in Germany, and its name is a German acronym meaning non-rusting steel, its anti-corrosive qualities coming from its 18% chrome content. It is used in the Chrysler Building in New York, which was repaired in the twenty-first century with tiles from Hathernware.

O

Odeon – Loughborough’s first Odeon Cinema, created in the streamline moderne style, was opened in 1936 on Baxter Gate, and was part of Oscar Deutsch’s cinema chain. This particular cinema became a Classic in 1967, but closed as a cinema in 1974. The bingo hall has now been bought by a church. Today, Loughborough’s Odeon is on Cattle Market, a building which originally opened in 1914, was refurbished in 1926, and again in 1936, and during its lifetime has been called The Empire, The New Empire, The Essoldo, The Classic, The Curzon, and The Reel, before finally becoming an Odeon in late 2011.

P

Pantiles – these roofing tiles have an ‘S’ shaped, or ogee curve, and unlike traditional slate tiles, they are laid so the downward curve of one tile overlaps with the upward curve of the adjacent tile, which results in a sort of wavy roof. Pantiles are usually made from clay, sometimes from concrete. Often these tiles are green, like the Mercury News Shop, and Party Pieces on Market Street (with a glimpse of either horns or swirl detailing in the faience tiles), but there is an example of blue ones in Loughborough, too.

 

Paris Expo – see L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes 

Pilaster – a type of column that seems embedded in a wall, so only some of it is visible. It is not holding anything up. Can also be called an engaged column. Pictured first are the first-floor windows of the former Burton store, now German Doner Kebabs, and second a picture of the former head office of the Loughborough Building Society on High Street. 

Portico – a roof supported by columns, often a porch attached to a building. An example in Loughborough town centre was the entrance to the former Cottons factory on Baxter Gate. Most of the portico was demolished for the creation of the inner relief road in 2013, such that all that remains today is one of the black-glazed tiled supports, next to a pizza takeaway. Pictured: all that’s left of the portico at Cottons, pictured in 2008, and 2024.

Price, Arthur J. - architect associated with the Harry Weedon architectural practice, favoured by Oscar Deutsch

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S

Solomonic columns – see Motifs – Barley sugar

Stained glass – although stained glass has been popular for hundreds, if not thousands of years, it was especially so in buildings of the early twentieth century. The example below is from the Loughborough Arms, which was previously known as the Rose and Crown, although they are more in the Art Nouveau style.

 

Streamline Moderne – is a later development in the Art Deco style, and is based around curved forms, with long horizontal lines. An example of this particular style is Loughborough’s original Odeon Cinema, opened in November 1936, closed as a cinema in 1974, and until 2020, a bingo hall. It was designed by Arthur J. Price for the architectural practice of Harry Weedon, the firm of preference for Oscar Deutsch, the creator of the Odeon chain of cinemas. The front is faced in faience tiles by Hathernware, in a basket weave pattern.

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V

Vita glass – a type of glass developed in the 1920s which allowed invisible ultraviolet rays to penetrate. This was considered healthy: today we sometimes cover our windows in a plastic film which does exactly the opposite! Names associated with this development are Sir Leonard Erskine Hill, Francis Edward Everard Lamplough, and Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell. Still evident in London Zoo Reptile House. Locally, in Ratby, amongst the buildings on a poultry farm being auctioned in 1936, was a ‘Brooder House’ – a heated space for young chicks - of 12 feet by 8 feet, which was glazed in vita glass, and somewhere in Loughborough, there were council houses, fitted with vita glass which were rented out for 3s. 3d., although their location is undisclosed.  

W

Weedon, Harry – Oscar Deutsch’s architectural firm of choice for the designing of his Odeon Cinemas

White brass – see Nickel Silver

Windows – see also Crittall, Stained Glass, Vita Glass

The first picture below is a fine example of curved glass of the Art Deco period, on a Baxter Gate building constructed in 1919 and honouring Herbert Bennett whose drapers shop was here in the previous building. The second picture is of the windows to the front of the Blacksmiths Arms - stained glass Crittall windows.

 

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Z

Ziggurat – a stepped building, often a roof, based on the ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. Examples in Loughborough are very gentle steps and can be seen on Peter’s Pizzas; Revs; what was the Baxter Gate tearooms; former Ellwoods buildings (and the Imperial buildings on the other corner, which were demolished); Burton building was originally but top step has been removed a long time ago; Cash Bingo and former Echo offices, although these are more like bays, with the middle bay taller than the others; the two outer buildings on Market Street, although again, these are really just taller bays; Blackamoors Head in Market Place (now demolished); Blacksmiths Arms (pictured).

  

More pictorial examples from Loughborough coming soon!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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