Former Gner Engine Shed

The former Great North of England Railway Engine Shed dates to 1840 or 1841, and was likely designed by George Townsend Andrews of York, who was a prolific architect for the Great North of England Railway. It’s a single-storey rectangular building constructed of red brick with stone dressings and a corrugated asbestos roof, featuring a timber ventilator. Originally, the building comprised two bays allowing engines to enter from the south.

The south elevation has two large round-headed engine openings with stone imposts; one is partially blocked and the other is covered with boarded sliding doors. The roof is hipped, with oversailing eaves and a raised, louvered ventilator along the apex. The north elevation mirrors the south, with two similar round-headed engine openings, one blocked, the other with boarded doors. The east and west elevations originally had eleven openings with brick segmental arches within shallow segmental-headed panels, separated by narrow brick pilasters. These lower parts of these openings have since been infilled, and later windows inserted; many of these have subsequently been blocked and boarded over, although six inserted windows in the east elevation retain their window frames. A stone plinth and stone sill band run along the building.

Inside, the shed is a large, open space with a Queen Post roof, and the remains of a fireplace, possibly a small forge, are located at the north end.

The building’s location on the line between Darlington and York, which opened in January 1841 for goods and March 1841 for passengers, is historically significant. The Tithe map of 1847 confirms the shed’s presence at this location.

The building is designated at Grade II for being an early and rare example of a railway engine shed, and for its significance to the evolution of railway building design. Despite some alterations, including blocked openings and roof coverings, it retains its basic form and is free from later additions.