Winding House And Headstocks At Bestwood Colliery

BESTWOOD ST. ALBANS PARK ROAD SK 54 NE (south side) 4/14 Winding House and Headstocks at Bestwood Colliery II* Winding house and headstocks, 1873. Additions late C19. Concrete and brick with stucco quoins and moulded brick and ashlar dressings. Hipped slate and flat concrete roofs. Italian Gothic style. Moulded plinth, string courses and cornices. Rusticated basement and pilasters. 2 storeys plus basement, 3 bays. Square plan. Panelled west side has 3 blocked doorways. Above, keystoned central recess containing mullioned casement. Flanked by single recesses each with a casement. Above again, 2 rope holes and above them, central mullioned casement. Above again, blind gable with inserted blocked rope hole. North and south sides have each 2 transomed casements and above, 2 multi- keystoned double lancets. Above again, 2 paired casements. East side has adjoining service wing, 2 and 3 storeys, with parapet. To left, door. To right, flat roofed single storey addition with blocked opening and door. Above and above again, to left, a casement. Interior has cast iron stages with classical ornament and ashlar winder stair with square newel. Latticed iron minor stairs. Matchboarded chamfered queen post truss roof on corbels, with ornate iron reinforcement. In situ, 2 single-cylinder vertical winding engines with overhead drum and brake gear. Outside, trabeated concrete clad headstocks with iron lattice stays. In situ pulleys and cage guides. Vertical winding engines are unusual in Great Britain and these are said to be the sole in situ example. This building is notable for the early use of structural concrete.

Listing NGR: SK5562547379