Monument Type(s):

• BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP (Early 19th century - 1806 AD to 1806 AD)
• CANAL WAREHOUSE (Early 19th century to 21st century - 1806 AD to 2000 AD)
• ENGINE HOUSE (Early 19th century to 21st century - 1806 AD to 2000 AD)
• JOINERS SHOP (Early 19th century - 1806 AD to 1806 AD)

Summary

A blacksmith's and joiner's shop, circa 1806, which is protected by Grade II* Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7234 - 2014 DBA and walkover survey adjacent to canal, SW of Ellesmere, Shropshire by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA7873 - 2007 DBA of Ellesmere Maintenance Yard by Heritage Assessments Ltd
• ESA9361 - 2020 DBA and building survey, Ellesmere Yard Blacksmith’s and Joiner’s shop by Canal and River Trust (Ref: 20/03735/LBC)

Description

Blacksmith's and Joiner's Shop. Circa 1806, adjoining William Jessop 's and Thomas Telford's Ellesmere Canal with later additions and alterations. Roughly coursed sandstone rubble with red brick dressings and painted timber frame with red brick infill, lower range partly weatherboarded to side facing yard; slate and corrugated iron roofs, half hipped to canal end. Prominent buildings on south-west side of depot, with blacksmith's shop on ground floor to left and joiner's shop above. 2 storeys with dentilled eaves cornice to left (upper) part on both sides and on rear to right (lower) part. Upper part has tall round-arched windows on both floors to side facing yard with continuous line of windows in roof lighting joiner's shop above. External wooden steps lead to open-gabled timber projection over round-headed boarded door on first floor; rectangular overhanging projection to right with glazing bar sash to front. Lower range has continuous run of half-glazed doors to front with wide segmental headed door to right and small segmental-headed window above. 3 wide rooflights. Rear has round-headed barred windows to both ranges and stacks in bottom of roof slope. Interior. Ground floor only inspected at time of resurvey (February 1987). Left part has large forge with bellows, anvil and blacksmith's tools. Lower range (open to roof) formerly used for making of lock-gates and retains equipment and lifting gear for this. The blacksmith's shop is still in working order and use. Edward Wilson, The Ellesmere and Llangollen Canal (1975), pp49-51 <1><2>

Part of a complex of canalside buildings, considered to be the best-preserved canal workshop site in the country. <3>

A brief assessment of this building was included in a conservation plan for the canal yard (PRN 06559). The assessment included a description of the engine house, blacksmith and joiner's workshop, general workshop, print store/mess room which form part of this complex. Includes a brief overview of internal features of note, and notes the significance of the engine room. <4>

An assessment was undertaken of the Ellesmere Canal Yard in 2007, including of this building. The form, materials, details and function of this building indicate that it belongs to the first phase, and dates from c1800. It is suggested on the map of 1827, and clearly shown on the tithe map of 1840. Despite many alterations, the building retains much of its original form and character – uncoursed rubble with brick dressings, two storeys, with round arched windows. The upper floor was reached by an external staircase on the N gable, which still exists. Plans show extensive alterations and additions to this range between 1840 and 1884, including the engine house and chimney, and it is likely that several surviving features date from this time. These include the buttresses to the Wwall, the ground-level windows there, the blocking of a window on the E side, and the first phase of the line shafting. ->

-> The double smiths’hearth is positioned so as to allow long work to pass clear of the buttresses, so it must be contemporary with them or later. The engine house itself is squeezed into a tapering space between this building and the timber store. This shows it is later than both these, and that it was somewhat makeshift. All this indicates the ground floor was adapted for metal working between 1840 and 1884. The steam engine was obviously small, and probably powered a saw in the adjoining building. The line shafting has had several alterations, including the use of secondhand railway track, and this is typical of a system which has existed for so long and was in railway ownership. ->

-> The first floor also shows alterations indicating changes of use. The most obvious of these is the roof structure, which cuts across the round opening in the S gable. It is typical of the late C19, with cast-iron ridge pieces and iron ties. The roof structure was altered still further by the insertion of north lights on the E side. This probably took place in the early C20, when the space became the joiners’ shop and powered machinery was installed. The canal company style favoured hipped roofs – the Cottage and Drydock, Beech House, and the later Timber Store, all have them. It is most likely the workshop range originally had one. The hoist is also likely to date from the late C19, as before this, materials would have had to be carried up the stairs, which would limit their size and weight. The lift is unusual in having a substantial platform below it, which would interfere with its operation. An iron ladder and guard rail complicate the picture. Hoist, platform, and enigmatic bay window alongside, call for further investigation. They add greatly to the character and interest of the building and site. The surviving machinery can largely be identified in the inter-war plan above, and dates mainly from the early/mid C20. <5>

Photographs taken 25th February 2019. <6>

Sources

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