Ministry Of Defence Number L168 (Engine House And Mechanics' Shop)

Mechanic's Shop and Engine House, built in 1857. The building is constructed of yellow brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with a hipped slate roof. It has a rectangular plan, with an Engine House situated within a tower to the northeast. An extension, the Motor Room with a flat roof, was added around 1859. In 1881, the Mechanic's Shop was expanded to the south and west by two additional bays, likely involving the replacement of original walls. The building features brick dentil cornices and brick corner pilasters, paired particularly on the Mechanic's Shop facade. The north elevation of the Mechanic's Shop includes late 19th-century segmental red brick arches above double doors with an overlight to the right, and above four 16/16-pane sash windows. Similar fenestration and arches are found on the other elevations. The Engine House has a semi-circular gauged brick arch with plain imposts and keystone to a tall, now blocked, window opening on the south side; similar arches frame three small windows on the upper stage of the west elevation and a doorway and lunette window to the south. The lunette window has a bracketed sill inscribed "Erected 1857”. The Motor Room has concrete lintels over a mid-20th century door and window. Inside the original 1857 structure, there are octagonal cast-iron columns with ornate capitals; one northeast column has a rounded section, likely intended for a swing jib. A matrix of pierced iron joists may have served as strengthening ties and to support brackets for line shafting and pulleys. The roof features iron trusses with decorative compression members, and a late 19th-century king-post roof in the southern extension. An 1856 plan indicates foundations for a 30-horsepower Compound Steam Engine. The building is located to the north of its contemporary boiler house (Building L176). The engine powered six incorporating mills within Building L169 (now demolished), which marked the first steam-powered mills on the site, directly to the south, leaving a visible scar of its gabled roof against the Engine House’s south wall. A concrete floor now covers the “shaft alley,” which previously housed drive shafts transmitting power to the incorporating mills, and may still contain remnants.