Monument Type(s):

• DRY DOCK (Early 19th century - 1806 AD to 1806 AD)
• OFFICE (Early 19th century - 1806 AD to 1806 AD)

Summary

An office and dry dock, dated 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
• ESA7538 - 1998 Conservation plan for Ellesmere Yard by British Waterways
• ESA7873 - 2007 DBA of Ellesmere Maintenance Yard by Heritage Assessments Ltd
• ESA9765 - 2022 Photographic survey, Ellesmere Yard Canal Workshop by Canal and River Trust (Ref: 20/03735/LBC)

Description

Offices and dry dock. Circa 1806 adjoining William Jessop's and Thomas Telford's Ellesmere Canal with minor later additions and alterations. Roughly coursed sandstone rubble with sandstone dressings; hipped slate roof. Long building on canal side of canal depot with dry dock at south-west end. 2 storeys. 6 horizontal sliding sashes directly below eaves and 4 with segmental heads to ground floor. Segmental-headed boarded doors to left and right with 3 wide segmental-headed double doors to right of centre-. Round-headed arch to south-west end gives access to dry dock. Open lean-to supported on wooden posts to canal side. Rectangular ventilated louvre to ridge has weathervane in shape of narrow boat. Interior. Dry dock has king-post roof with raking struts from walls to tie beams on canal side. In the dock boats were formerly built, repaired and 'indexed'. To empty the dock of water a temporary dam was built across the entrance by dropping 'stop-planks' into iron-shod grooves. The water was then drained out, the boat coming to rest on baulks of timber in the now -dry dock. Edward Wilson, The Ellesmere and Llangollen Canal (1975), pp53-7 <1>

Part of a complex of canalside buildings, considered to be the best-preserved canal workshop site in the country. <4>

A brief assessment of this building was included in a conservation plan for the canal yard (PRN 06559). The dry dock was designed as a multi-purpose building, with wharfage and docking to the waterside and stables and stores to the landside. <5>

An historical assessment was prepared to the canal yard, including of this building. This building is first shown on Greenwood’s plan of 1827, and there is no doubt it dates from the same time as the manager’s house, c1800. Drydock and house were interrelated. They flanked the entrance to the yard, and the store building contained coach house and stables serving the manager’s house. Like the other first phase buildings, the drydock features a hipped slate roof. This and its ashlar dressings reflect its status as a high-grade workshop building, a prominent part of the canal company’s headquarters. <6>

Photographs taken 25th February 2019. <7>

A level 1 photographic survey was undertaken in 2022 in association with underpinning works to the NE end of the workshop range at the Ellesmere Yard Canal Workshop. <8>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.