Firths Norfolk West Gun Shop

SHEFFIELD

SK38NE SAVILE STREET EAST 784-1/6/647 (North West side) 13/06/88 Firth's Norfolk, West Gun Shop

II

Gun works and adjoining workshops and offices. Late C19, with late C19 and C20 alterations. Probably commissioned by John Firth (son of Thomas Firth) for Thomas Firth & Sons. Brick with stone dressings and slate and corrugated iron roofs. EXTERIOR: plinth and eaves band. 2-storey ranges fronting Savile Street (29 bays), a rounded corner (8 bays), and a 3 storey range fronting Carwood Road (7 bays). Savile Street front has to left a 9 window range with a canted stone oriel window flanked to left by 2 margin light sashes and to right by 6 plain sashes. Below, a carriage entrance flanked by single doors with overlights. To left 2, and to right 3 glazing bar sashes. To the right, 5 recesses defined by pilasters, the 2 recesses to the right with round heads. 5 triple glazing bar sashes and below, five C20 steel casements. To right again, 5 blank lunettes and below, 15 round-headed windows with C19 and C20 triple tilting casements, that to the left converted to a fire door. Rounded corner has 8 segment-headed triple tilting casements on each floor. Carwood Road front has 7 similar casements and above, a coped gable containing a Diocletian window. Below, a tilting casement and a blank, flanked to left by 4 restored windows, and a fire door. INTERIOR not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: the Gun Shop was constructed specifically for the forging of heavy artillery barrels and housed two 25-ton steam hammers (exceptionally large and powerful for the period). By the mid 1870s, Firth's had established itself as the foremost gun forgers in the world, and many record forgings were made in the shop. (Newbould H: The History of Firth's: 1924-; 100 Years of Steel: 1937-; Grant A Sir: Steel and Ships: 1950-).

Listing NGR: SK3704788869