Timber Store At Former Canal Basin, Now In Grounds Of Laurel Cottage

Timber store. Built around 1836 as part of the Westport Canal complex, it is now situated within the grounds of Laurel Cottage. The building has a base of coursed and squared lias stone, with a projecting lias band marking the first-floor level, and brickwork above. The design includes five tall openings on each face, with impost detailing and segmental arches. One archway is open, with paired blank doors and strap hinges. It features a brick dentil eaves cornice and a high, pyramidal slate roof. The original plan was square, with the ground floor initially used as stabling for barge horses and the upper floor for drying timber. Originally, the upper floor had open archways to facilitate air circulation. The roadside ground floor has four small segmental-headed window openings, three of which are blocked, with one retaining a 2-light casement window (glazing missing). A segmental-headed door opening is present to the right, with plank doors. 20th-century lean-to outshuts are not of architectural significance. The building is part of a group of important structures that formed a canal basin and was associated with the former Westport Canal. It is currently used for light industrial purposes.