Office Row, West Of East Gate At Soho Foundry

Office Row, located west of the east gate at Soho Foundry, is a row of seven houses that have been converted into offices. These buildings date from the early to mid-19th century and are constructed of buff-coloured brick with a slate roof. They are two storeys high, and all openings feature segmental heads. At the left end of the row is a taller block with three bays and a hipped roof. The central bay contains paired doorways. The other five houses each have two bays, with the right-hand bay of each featuring a blind recess on the first floor and a doorway below. The doorway of the right-hand house is currently blocked. There are chimneys on either side of the taller block and to the right of the third and fourth houses. Soho Foundry, established in 1796 by Boulton, Watt and Sons for the production of steam engine parts, is located on this site. These houses were situated outside the gates of the original foundry. It is noted that the left-hand house was occupied for a few years by William Murdock (1754 - 1839), who was the chief engine erector for the company and a pioneer of gas lighting.