Tower Works Engine House

The building is an engine house, dating from 1899 and likely designed by William Bakewell for TW Harding, chairman of the Tower Works. Medallions were designed by Alfred Drury. It is constructed of red brick in English bond (one brick width, three brick height), with stone gable copings. The roof is not visible.

The east end features a tall round-arched window, the lower part of which has been altered to a loading door, with a stone sill. A foundation stone bears an eroded inscription reading ‘...T.W.HARDING ESQRE.J.P./ LORD MAYOR OF LEEDS/ (CHAIR)MAN OF THE COMPANY/ JU(NE) 25th 18(99)...’. A doorway is situated to the right, with a brick wedge lintel. The west end has a round-arched recess of glazed bricks, with glazed brick bands. The right return side has three shallow buttresses with stone caps, approximately 3 metres high. Contemporary ranges to the south are not included in the listing.

The interior retains a mosaic floor in red, black and white abstract patterns. Walls are lined with cream tiles, and feature five arcades on each side, decorated with brown moulded tiles to the dado, impost bands, and arches. Each recess contains a circular glazed bronze plaque with a portrait in relief of a person associated with the manufacture of textile machinery. The lettering on the plaques, from the east end, reads: 'T.R.HARDING/ FOUNDER OF TOWER WORKS/ 1866; T.W.HARDING/ FIRST CHAIRMAN/ 1895; JOSUE HEILMANN/ THE COMBING MACHINE; (obscured)/ SPINNING AND CARDING; ...EL LAWSON/ ...LEY'S SCREW C....'. On the left side, from the east end, the plaques read: '(RICHARD) ARKWRIGHT/ (obscured); DR.E.CARTWRIGHT/ THE (COMB)ING MACHINE; (obscured)/ (P)OWER LOOM; (obscured)/ THE COMBING MACHINE; (obscured) THE COMBING MACHINE'. An inserted floor, partitions, and ceiling obscure some plaques, and some are damaged; the names on the obscured plaques are Holden, Lister, Donisthorpe, and Fairbairn.

William Bakewell was commissioned to design extensions to the works in 1899, and in 1902 produced designs for the City Square, at the responsibility of Colonel Harding. Alfred Drury also designed the statues of 'Night' and 'Morn' for the City Square at this time. The engine house represents a fine example of the elaborate workmanship often applied to steam engine housing in factories and mills throughout the 19th century. Historical details relating to the firm of TW Harding can be found at the Tower Works Entrance range.