Boston Lodge

Cadw's description

Location

The railway yard known as Boston Lodge is a large complex at the south-east end of The Cob, facing Porthmadoc across the Traeth Mawr. This building is at the centre of the site between the main range and the railway track.

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.

Exterior

This prominent range, although altered, is the oldest at Boston Lodge because it was originally the barrack building to house some of the workforce brought in to build the Cob; there was also a comparable barracks on the Porthmadoc side. Tall, 3-storey stone building with painted rendered elevations and boulder plinth; hipped slate roof with wide eaves and cement rendered chimney stacks to ends and centre. 3 + 3-window west front with modern cross-frame, small-pane, windows and drip-edges at sill level. Irregular window arrangement at rear and entrances up steps to either end.

Reason for designation

Listed for its importance as a former workmens' barracks, the oldest of the Boston Lodge buildings.

Group value with other listed items at Boston Lodge which is an especially complete C19 railway works and has important historical associations with the Ffestiniog Railway.