IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Firth Road, LINCOLN, LN5 7PA

A building on the St.Mark's development known locally as the Coach House

St Marks station was closed in 1985 but the entrance was preserved as part of the shopping centre built on the site.

Now enjoying a renaissance as part of the St.Mark's shopping complex, the former classical station building in the Greek style with Ionic portico and side pavilions with Doric pilasters was built in 1846.

Former Lincoln Equitable Cooperative Industrial Society sub-central stores Branch No.14. by Co-op architect J H Cooper. The foundation stone was laid 2nd December 1892, opening in 1893. Now individual business units.

Detail from the former Co-op branch No.14 https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7516042 with a Latin Inscription 'crescit paulatim' .... 'it grows little by little'

The grand former Ritz Cinema, 145-146 High Street was built in 1936 by City Council architect Leslie Norton using a standard plan from the Ritz to seat 1240 people. This is the best preserved major cinema in the East Midlands having had its layout and decoration conserved in the 1980s. The cinema was closed in 1996 but the foyer and stalls area opened as a JD Wetherspoons pub in 1998. A community group has recently (Jan 2012) announced plans to renovate the venue as a cheap alternative cinema to open in summer 2012.

The Co-operative Sub-Central stores originally occupied 137-141 High Street but this building is now 137 to 140. The first store in high street (branch 14 described as opposite Monson Street) opened in 1889 and rapidly became very profitable and too small. Consequently in Co-op’s January 1892 report they advise that; “In pursuance of a resolution passed at the last Quarterly Meeting, we have purchased from Mr. F. Andrews, his properly in High Sheet. At the back part of it there is a frontage on Tanner's Lane, and the High Street front is about 80 feet in extent, so that the whole of the block is convenient of access and in a good and improving situation.” The architect was J H Cooper and contractors Messrs Wright and Sons. The foundation stone was laid 3rd December 1892. The Co-op July 1893 report states that the store is not complete and opening is anticipated in August. Co-op reports continue to refer to branch 14 into the 1940s when they stop detailing separate branch accounts so I’m assuming that this store became branch 14 but it is not at all clear when the other store closed and in the early days they were encouraging use of the new store due to queues at the old one. The Lincoln Council’s heritage asset tells us ‘Supasave supermarket 1970-1985 (with nos. 141-142)’ but a Co-op report states the redundant building was sold on 2nd November 1971. It was converted to four shop units in the 1980s and occupants included, with dates known to be there, No.137; EYG Windows (2001-2009); Re-Latte (2011-Septemb 2014); Empty (August-November 2015); Sound Advice Hearing Centre (May 2016- November 2020 notice in the window saying they were moving and sign gone); Mr Chippy fish and chip shop (August 2021 on). No.138; North Lincs College Offices, Lincoln Learning Shop (2001); A4e (May 2009); Relate (May 2011-August 2015); Empty (May-June 2016); Red Rock Recruitment (April 2017 on). No.139; Groves Discount Sore (2001); Bluestone Art Ltd. (2007 on – part of Speed Frame). No.140; Speed Frame (2001). Speed Frame have probably been here since they were established in 1985. The names over 139 and 140 have subsequently swapped around (Nov ’20 to Jun ’21), once through the door though they are one shop.

Now the offices of Smart and Cook

Opened in 1846 by the Midland Railway company, this station closed in 1985 when all train services were re-routed into Lincoln Central station. This building still exists, now built into a retail complex. Some vintage cars also on display! View west. Compared to Image taken 39 years later, the buildings seen here are largely unchanged, since they are now Grade II Listed.

Hostelry on lower High Street