Gas Works

The gas works, built in 1836, consists of a pair of buildings flanking the entry, with a store on the left and offices on the right. The buildings are made of red brick with stuccoed fronts. The left building has a slate roof, while the right has a concrete tile roof. The left building was originally designed with three bays across and three bays deep, but now has an additional bay at the rear. There is a later range on the left side that is not of special interest. The front gable has a truncated stack and features three blind bays defined by pilasters with recessed panels, topped by a pediment. The frieze is inscribed with "Gas Works" and there is a rendered plinth. The right side has three blind panels under segmental arches and a blocked opening with a flat gauged brick arch in the central bay. There is a 20th-century window in the rear bay. The right building has three bays across and two bays deep, with later lean-to extensions on the sides and rear. Its front is similar to the left building, but has two inserted ground floor oriel windows in the outer bays and missing pediment coping. The left side features four-pane sash windows on the first floor in recessed panels, along with a small recessed central panel. These buildings are the earliest gas works in East Anglia, established by the Saffron Walden Gas Company as a private company in 1836.