British Aluminium Factory, Foyers

The British Aluminium Factory in Foyers, designed probably by Cameron Burnett for the British Aluminium Company, was built between 1895 and 1896, with later alterations. This large former aluminium smelter and hydroelectric powerhouse is located adjacent to Loch Ness. The factory features a symmetrical tall north-facing range with eight crowstepped gables on the long rear shed. It is constructed from bull-faced rubble with tooled dressings. Each bay is divided by giant pilaster strips that terminate under a continuous string course. The factory has wide flat-headed doorways in alternating bays, round arched windows above, and oculi in the gables. To the right (west), there is a further lower range with two bays under a crowstepped gable. The rear elevation is lit by paired round-headed windows, with a continuous string course below the parapet. Paired gabled bays project to the east, forming an L-plan return elevation, and the building features multi-pane glazing. The roof is made of valleyed corrugated iron, with each ridge supporting a continuous louvered saddle-back vent.

Inside, the factory has a plain interior with rails and fittings on the floor from the former installed plant associated with the smelter, which was removed in 2009. There is a large roller hoist to the roof supported by two steel I-beams, along with further engineered metal beams in the roof.