Slaughter House About 20 Metres South South West Of No 45 (Belgrave House)

MORETONHAMPSTEAD FORD STREET (south side), SX 7586 Moretonhampstead 8/146 Slaughter House about 20 metres - south-south-west of No. 45 (Belgrave House) - II

Slaughterhouse in back yard of former butcher's house, Belgrave House. Probably early to mid C19. Granite rubble. Steeply pitched corrugated asbestos roof with gabled ends. Single cell, rectangular, nearlysquare, on plan, with small building house attached to south-west corner. The boiling house was probably for cleaning and is a later addition. North front has doorway to left with heavy timber doorframe and halved plank door. South rear elevation has central window with fixed light window, some glazing bars missing. West gable end has small ventilation hole in gable, blocked window to left with drain hole at ground level below, probably for draining blood. Small boiling house attached to right, faced in brick and with corrugated iron leanto roof. East gable end has small ventilation holes in gable and window opening below. All openings have timber lintels except for ventilation holes which have stone lintels. Interior: limewashed interior walls. Roof appears to have bolted roughly dressed A-trusses with halved collars. 2 low tie-beams support tackle and hoist, with large wooden hoist wheel on axle. Small man-powered gin wheel below, its axle between 2 ports. At opposite end a third higher level tie-beam. An iron rail on timber brackets around 3 sides of interior, presumably for hanging carcasses. Doorway in corner to boiling house. This is an interesting small example of a building type which is rarely found so complete with its simple wooden machinery and tackle.

Listing NGR: SX7521086122