Foundry House

Foundry House, Summer House Terrace/Old Station Way, Yeovil

Factory, formerly glove manufacturing works. Built between 1872 and 1875 for Ewens and Johnson Ltd, this is a three-storeyed red brick building of seven bays with Hamstone and brick dressings, a slate roof, end stacks, and a two-storeyed lean-to extension of seven bays to the rear.

The principal façade faces east onto Stars Lane. The seven bays are divided by pilaster strips, with flat-headed windows to the ground and second floors and segmental arched windows to the first floor. The right-hand end bay at first floor and the fifth bay on the second floor contain loading doors. At ground floor, the central bay has a doorway with original double doors and hinges bearing the company initials "E" and "J"; external cast-iron tie plates to the main floor joists also bear these initials. The gable ends are of two bays, divided by broad pilasters. On the upper floor, these pilasters are joined at their tops by cambered arches forming recessed panels in which flat-headed windows are set.

Three phases of construction are visible on the rear elevation. The two-storey lean-to extension was added in the early 20th century. The central brick projection at ground floor and the upper floor belong to the 1870s building. The central part of the extension is thought to pre-date 1927 and housed office accommodation, whilst the two bays either side were built at a slightly later date. The second floor windows of the extension are arranged similarly to the front façade. A flat-roofed single-storey extension attached to the left end gable was built after the building ceased to be a glove-making factory in the late 20th century and is not of special interest.

The roof is of king-post construction with angled struts. The floors are of conventional joisted construction. At ground floor, timber beams are supported by single rows of cast-iron columns in the south half of the building and by a brick dividing wall in the north half. At first floor, columns provide support, and at second floor, columns are present only in the northern half. A staircase with plain timber balustrade and balusters leads to the first floor, where a further staircase provides access to the upper floor. Several windows retain decorative latches to allow the pivoting windows to be opened. The former office retains timber panelling.

From the early 19th century, Yeovil developed into one of the country's main centres for glove production. By 1840, documentary sources indicate approximately 75 per cent of the town's population were employed in glove making. The industry remained Yeovil's principal activity throughout the 19th century and continued to thrive until the mid-20th century. Foundry House was constructed in the early 1870s as a purpose-built factory. The upper floor contained the cutting room and stock rooms; the first floor housed the sorting and stamping of hides and the office suite; the ground floor contained the machine room, ironing room and packing room. This 1870s factory building is a finely preserved example of a medium-sized glove-making factory that has not suffered from large-scale internal or external alteration and is a rare survival of what was once a common building type in Yeovil.