Former Canal Warehouse And The Wharf Manager'S House Now Both Part Of Premises Of Canal Saw Mills

The former Canal Warehouse and the Wharf Manager's House, now part of the premises of Canal Saw Mills, were likely built between 1770 and 1773. They may have been designed by notable figures such as John Smeaton, William Jessop, John Smith, or Joshua Wilson. The warehouse is constructed from hammer-dressed red sandstone, with some areas roughcast, and features a double hipped pantile roof. It stands two storeys tall and has two bays, each with a wagon entrance on the ground floor and loading doors above. The loading door on the east side is accessed by an external red brick staircase. The road-facing side includes casement windows with glazing bars.

The Wharf Manager's House is also roughcast with a pantile roof, rising two storeys and comprising three bays. It has sash windows with glazing bars, a central first-floor window that is blind, and a door with six fielded panels topped by an oblong fanlight with glazing bars. There is a staircase window with glazing bars on the road side.

Historically, the Act for the Ure Navigation was passed in 1767, leading to the cutting of the Ripon Canal, which began in early 1770 and opened in early 1773. The surveyor for the project was William Jessop, with supervision by John Smeaton, and John Smith served as the resident engineer. The masonry contractor was Joshua Wilson from Halifax. A warehouse was recorded as existing in 1781, suggesting that this building is likely that structure. Alternatively, it could be part of the Aire and Calder Navigations scheme for a wharf at Ripon proposed in 1789, though it is unclear if that was completed.