Former Siemens Cable Factory, 37 Bowater Road

Former Siemens Cable Factory, 37 Bowater Road

A rubber-coated copper-wire cable factory built between 1910 and 1911 for Siemens Brothers. It was designed by W Dieselhorst, the Siemens works manager, and the in-house architects Herbert and Helland, using the Kahn reinforced concrete system. A five-storey extension was added in 1942.

The building employs a reinforced-concrete frame and roof constructed using the Kahn System, with brick walling panels and structural piers laid in English bond combined with concrete detailing. The fenestration consists of a mix of original multi-pane metal-framed windows and replacement six-pane metal-framed windows. Metal fire-escapes and a tubular steel guard rail run across the roof.

The building is a five-storey structure with a basement and flat roof. Originally it formed an L-shaped plan, comprising an east-west range of 29 bays in length with, at its western end, a north-south range of 14 bays in length. An additional north-south range added in 1942 towards the eastern end of the principal range measures eight bays, creating an F-shaped plan overall. This 1942 range was added to a two-bay stair tower present on the original building, resulting in a 10-bay section. A later five-storey fire-escape appears on the south elevation of the principal range, with additional fire escapes on the east elevations of both wings. The fire escape on the west wing is one of the original external staircases, manufactured by the Lion Foundry of Kirkintilloch. The interior comprises long, largely open-plan factory floors divided longitudinally by a central row of concrete pillars. Upper-floor access is provided by staircases and lift shafts positioned at the angle where the main and cross ranges meet, extended into flat-roofed brick buildings at roof level. Later subdivision has introduced concrete blockwork partitions in some areas.

The elevations are predominantly uniform, featuring large factory windows on each of the five floors set within panels of brickwork and framed by the structural brick piers defining the bays. The piers are expressed as buttresses with concrete capping extending to second-floor level. The ground floor sits on a black-painted brick plinth with top mouldings and white-painted brickwork above. Window openings have concrete lintels and sills. Most windows are original multi-pane metal-framed units, though significant replacements exist, particularly on the fourth and fifth floors of the two original ranges (fifth floor only on the north elevation and east elevation of the west wing). Some original windows retain external latches to one of the lower casements in alternating windows, enabling external opening as a fire precaution. The first two bays of the eastern elevations of the two cross wings feature staggered multi-pane fenestration lighting the internal staircase. The eastern range incorporates an arched entrance with a fanlight. Windows on the central section of the ground floor of the north elevation of the principal range and on all floors of two bays on the south elevation have been infilled, marking the position of the lost original fire-escape on this side. Goods entrances, some original and some in added openings, are distributed around the building, most fitted with metal roller shutters. The timber panelled and half-glazed doors to the fire escape on the eastern elevation of the west range survive on some floors, featuring fixed multi-pane glazing above. The eastern elevation of the principal range is blank. The concrete frame is exposed on the short northern elevations of both cross wings.

The 1942 range differs in its metal-framed window design. On its western elevation, the brick piers have been omitted at ground-floor level, leaving only the concrete columns visible, suggesting an original outshut once occupied this wall.

The reinforced-concrete slab floors are supported on a reinforced concrete frame with a central row of pillars clasping the lateral beams. Spine beams are absent except in the 1940s range, where they are present at least on the ground floor. The columns have narrow chamfered corners. The lower edge of the lateral beams contains rolled steel joists (RSJs) embedded for attaching factory machinery. The concrete stairs retain their ironwork balustrade and handrails. A water sprinkler system survives in parts of the building and is likely to be original based on comparison with historic photographs. No factory machinery remains within the building.