Original Plant Works Building To South West Of Doncaster Station

TOWN OF DONCASTER HEXTHORPE ROAD SE 5703 SW (east side) SE 50 SE

6/37 Original Plant Works 3/37 building to South West of Doncaster Station 7.10.86 (formerly listed on Trafford Way)

GV II

Railway plant works. 1851 by William and Joseph Cubitt, with later alterations. Red brick with brick and stone dressings; roof partly of Welsh slates and partly of concrete tiles. Two storeys, 44 bays, with four bays to either end advanced and pedimented. Between each bay and to corners there are simple pilasters with plain bands near the tops, over which there is a continuous projecting parapet, these combine to create full-height square-headed recesses to each bay. Ground floor has continuous stone sills which also run through the pilasters. All ground floor windows below segmental brick heads; fenestration mainly small paned windows, with later casements inserted to left and fixed 12-pane windows with single pane casements to right. Bays 10 and 11 have a bay window with similar pilasters and windows to rest of facade, topped dentilled cornice and low blocking course. Above similar segment-headed windows, mostly,with 9-pane windows, all with stone sills across the width of each recess. Projecting parapets above are mostly rebuilt and have flat copings. End bays have dentilled pediments. Roof with numerous roof lights. End bays with cross roofs, that to left end with central square timber bellcote, under hipped roof. Rear elevation similar, but with entrances and two weatherboarded first-floor loading bays on large cast-iron brackets. Main entrance to left return, a panelled door below segmental arch. Interior has cast-iron stick baluster staircase with wreathed mahogany handrail to southern end and original wide, braced, queen post roof trusses to first floor. This building originally housed an engine shop to either end with a boiler shop, and office and the smiths shop to the centre. This was altered by 1853 when the plant was expanded to house the drawing office, the grinding shop, the boiler-shop, a store, the managers office, a turning shop and a carriage shop. The Wagon and Carriage Works for the Great Northern Railway Company were originally in Boston, but moved in 1851 to Doncaster and it was from these offices that some of the most innovative designs for locomotives first originated (see the Patrick Stirling Monument, St James Bridge qv). Later extension to north not included in the listing. Source 'History of Doncaster Plant Works from 1853 to Present Day', J E Day 1953.

Listing NGR: SE5703103029