Joiners Shop And Saw Mill To Former Foundry

A joiners' shop, saw mill, and associated outbuildings, dating probably from the early 19th century with later 19th-century rebuilding and alterations. These buildings were constructed as part of Matthew Murray’s steam engine manufactory and are located to the rear of Foundry Street in Holbeck, Leeds, enclosing a yard.

The complex consists of three ranges forming the north, east and south sides of the yard, and abutting the buildings on the west side of Foundry Street. The north range is three storeys high with seven first-floor windows on its south side and eight on its north side. The windows are two-wide, with 12 panes per sash, stone sills, and cambered header and stretcher arches. A wide segmental-arched opening was originally present on the ground floor, left side, later reduced to a window. Stone quoins appear on the ground floor left, and a change in brickwork suggests a rebuild of much of this range to the right of the window six, south side.

The east range is also three storeys high, with four first-floor windows and a loading door between them. There are three single-flue chimneys along the rear eaves. The windows are casements with nine panes, brick sills, and cambered brick arches. Similar windows, with stone lintels, are located alongside a narrow loading door that extends upwards to the top storey. Three segmental brick arches are present on the ground floor, with an inserted window and a 20th-century garage door. Further inserted garage doors are to the left and far right.

The south range is two storeys high with three first-floor windows. The roof extends to the left to meet the wall of the east range. A tall rebuilt chimney stack rises from the ridge between the centre and right windows. A central section of the facade has been rebuilt. Similar segmental brick arches are present on the ground floor, all reduced to windows or doors. A two-storey gabled block is located to the right, featuring two first-floor windows with nine-pane casements and a cambered stretcher arch to the left. 20th-century additions project on the right.

The manufacture of textile machines, and subsequently the finishing of locomotives, necessitated extensive use of timber, and skilled joiners were employed by Murray. The quality of the design and finish of both brass and wood were regarded as hallmarks of the foundry. The joinery yard had a separate entrance via a gate on Water Lane, north of the north range; the east range served as the saw mill. The interiors of the buildings were not inspected. Historical information can be found at No. 99 Water Lane.