Linotype Works Engine House and Chimney Base

Engine House and Chimney Base

This engine house and chimney base were built in 1897 by the architects Stott & Sons for the Linotype Company. The chimney was reduced in height during the late 20th century.

The engine house is constructed of brick with terracotta and stone dressings beneath a slate roof, while the chimney base is built of brick with stone dressings. The engine house forms a tall rectangular building aligned north-south, with the circular chimney standing close by on its west side. The chimney has a square base.

The principal elevation faces north, aligned to the Bridgewater Canal and designed to be viewed across it. The north gable wall displays polychrome banding in red and brindle brickwork. An attic storey is defined by a moulded terracotta cornice band below and a moulded terracotta eaves band above with terracotta ball finials at the corners.

The north elevation is arranged in four bays separated by brick pilasters with terracotta panels at their bases and terracotta fluted bands beneath Ionic capitals topped with a moulded terracotta cornice. Between the pilasters are round-headed arch windows with moulded terracotta impost bands, voussoir bands featuring giant keystones, and stone sills. The lower parts of the third and fourth windows and the dividing pilaster have been removed following modern insertion of a large square-headed entrance. A pedestrian doorway with a roller shutter has been inserted beneath the second window, and a rectangular opening sits beneath the first window. All windows are currently boarded. A frieze band contains square outer panels separated by narrow brick pilasters. The name LINOTYPE is picked out in white brick in the attic storey, with WORKS displayed in white brick to the frieze band below. The elevation is topped by a shaped pediment with a terracotta finial, moulded coping and decorative scrolled side console brackets. The date 1897 appears in white brickwork within the pediment.

The south gable wall carries a similar shaped pediment with terracotta decoration. Beneath the lower cornice band is the outline of a demolished abutting building. Two large square openings (now boarded) sit within that outline. At ground floor level is a square-headed doorway with a sliding door.

The east side elevation comprises seven bays. Scars and painted walling indicate a former abutting building. The right-hand corner carries a clasping pilaster continuing from the principal elevation. At first-floor level are seven basket-arched windows with giant keystones, all infilled with brick. Shaped stone corbels sit between the windows at impost level. The attic storey above contains seven elliptical windows with giant terracotta keystones and timber-framed, multi-pane pivoting windows.

The west side elevation formerly abutted the boiler house, with the lower part of the wall painted. It is similarly detailed to the east elevation with seven bays. The left-hand corner carries a clasping pilaster continuing from the principal elevation. At first-floor level are seven basket-arched windows with giant terracotta keystones; all are infilled with brick except the first window (boarded). The attic storey contains seven elliptical windows (boarded, with the left-hand window infilled with brick) with giant terracotta keystones.

The chimney base is constructed of brick on a high square pedestal with an entablature comprising a moulded stone architrave and cornice. The truncated circular chimney has a stone plinth. At each corner is a small square engaged pillar with stone plinth and shaped stone cap topped with a ball finial.

The interior of the engine house is now a single open space, the engine floor having been removed. The side walls are articulated by pilasters with terracotta detailing between the windows and there is a deep dentil cornice beneath the attic storey, which retains a travelling crane. The area between the former engine floor and the sills of the side elevation windows is tiled in dark brown glazed tiles with a yellow and green decorative tile cornice at sill level, though the tiles are mostly painted over at present. Between the sixth and seventh windows of the west elevation is a high-level doorway to the boiler house, now infilled from behind. The decorative terracotta architrave and six-panelled, partially glazed door remain in place. Several infilled cast-iron bearing boxes are evident in the walls.