Gateway And Flanking Walls To Former Railway Foundry

SE3032 714-1/43/872 02/09/96

LEEDS PEARSON STREET, Hunslet (South side) Gateway and flanking walls to former Railway Foundry

GV II

Archway and flanking walls. Probably 1846-50. For EB Wilson's Railway Foundry. Ashlar arch with cast-iron corner plates, red brick flanking walls. Wide basket arch, chamfered rustication, impost blocks, massive voussoirs, moulded cornice and entablature. Flanking walls originally the outer walls of the works' north courtyard range, extending approx 50m overall and parallel to the south range; 2 storeys reduced to 1, segmental-arched blocked windows, stone sills. HISTORICAL NOTE: Charles Todd established the Railway Foundry in a former mill, later the south range, in 1838; for early history see Railway Foundry building (qv). The firm became EB Wilson and Co in 1846 and the 1847 OS map shows the yard and railway tracks leading through the gateway, across Pearson Street and looping round in the area south of Dow Beck where there were further buildings. Wilson's firm established the concept of a production line for standardised locomotive classes, the best known type built here being the 0-6-0 inside cylinder double frame goods engine with 160 built. Throughout the 1840s and 1850s the firm was the foremost locomotive builder in Britain; at closure in 1858 it was the most up-to-date locomotive works in the country. The estate was bought by Hudswell Clarke and Co and locomotive building continued, later becoming the Hunslet Engine Company, No.125 Jack Lane (qv). (Redman RN: The Railway Foundry, Leeds 1829-1969: Norwich: 1972-).

Listing NGR: SE3067032192