Former Willans & Robinson Factory, East Block

Former Willans & Robinson Factory Constructed in 3 long, low blocks, originally flat topped but now with shallow gabled roofs behind the parapets. The asymmetrical blocks are fronted in dark red local brick, over an iron-framed structure. A repeating bay pattern, giving an important coherence, consists of a window band over a doorway, each bay divided by raked buttresses and with pronounced corner buttresses. The large iron-framed windows with small-pane glazing have cast iron I-section lintels, with vertical strengthening bars, above which is a dentilled brick course containing ventilation holes. Mainly tall doorways, centrally-placed with concrete lintels. Brick string course to lower level; some lines of sockets beneath windows, now infilled with concrete. The parapets, originally of a similar scale to the buttresses and helping to articulate the bay pattern, have been mainly rebuilt. Some brick paving is preserved immediately in front of the building; there were originally railway tracks here.

The E block is the least altered; the bays have 3-window bands, and the parapets are original except for the addition of stepped brickwork to the centre of each bay. To the L-hand bay, the doorway has been infilled with glazing to create a new entrance, the window above infilled with brickwork. The central 3 bays have tall doorways with steel roller doors under concrete lintels. The R-hand bay has a small doorway with dentilled brick lintel, now infilled with brick, with a later doorway added to the R.

The E and W sides of the block retain their parapets, and there are no added gables. To the W, the R-hand bay has large corner buttresses and a 3-window band above a small central doorway, now infilled with brick. To L, the wall is set back and has at least 7 bays with 2-window bands, partly visible above added flat-roofed blocks. The E side is similar, the large L bay with corner buttresses and 3-window band, beneath which is a central oculus infilled with brick and a small inserted doorway to R. To the R, the wall is slightly set back, with 5 bays containing 2-window bands visible; a later range adjoins at the R end, with small flat-roofed blocks added in front.