Locker Room Block at Boston Lodge

Cadw's description

Location

The railway works known as Boston Lodge is a large complex at south-east end of The Cob, facing Porthmadoc across the Traeth Mawr. This range is located immediately W of Boston Lodge cottages, at right-angles with them.

History

Boston Lodge was originally one of the two barracks built for the workforce constructing The Cob in 1808-11, William Madocks' major engineering project. It was widened in 1836 by the addition of the lower Cob to carry the new road and the original embankment was then converted to carry the new Ffestiniog Railway which was built as a narrow-gauge slate railway to connect the quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog with the harbour at Porthmadoc. Boston Lodge was used to provide stabling for the horse-drawn railway but following introduction of steam locomotives in 1863, which in itself was a technological achievement given the gradients on this line, it was enlarged and converted into a locomotive works and yard; it was most unusual for such a small railway to be building its own carriages and locomotives. Boston Lodge retains this use because although the line was closed in 1946 it reopened in 1954 as a private steam railway. It is widely recognised as one of the world's historic railways and is believed to be the oldest surviving railway company. The name of the works derives from the fact that Madocks was MP for Boston, Lincolnshire.

This building is an early C20 addition to the complex, and formerly served as a mess room; it is currently a locker room.

Exterior

Rectangular single-storey block of local slate rubble construction with hipped slate roof. The front NE elevation has a plain-panelled timber gabled porch to the R with arched entrance and glazed side lights; 12-pane sash window to the NW return (R). The rear elevation has a central catslide outshut with multi-pane window; 2 modern timber windows to the R and L of this.

Interior

The interior is now a locker room.

Reason for designation

Listed as part of this especially complete example of a C19 railway engineering works which has important historical associations with the Ffestiniog Railway.

Group value with other listed items at Boston Lodge.