British Colliery Pumping Engine House

Cadw's description

Location

On the site of the British Ironworks about 100m north east of the former British Ironworks office and foundry quadrangle.

History

A Cornish beam pumping engine-house built by the British Iron Company to drain its mines. The engine-house stood within the complex of buildings of the British Ironworks, most of which were dismantled in the 1880's following closure of the ironworks in 1883. The British Ironworks began production in 1827 and operated several coal mines in the vicinity. The pumping engine was installed in 1845 to assist drainage from the deep levels.

Exterior

A sandstone engine house of standard 'Cornish' type, but better finished than many. It has the remains of a Welsh slate roof of low pitch. A rectangular three storeyed tower of coursed squared stone. The long walls have an arched opening on each floor with cill and voussoir head; these have all been blocked with brick. The north gable wall likewise, but with three different sized openings, of which only the ground floor one is blocked. The south gable 'bob' wall has a partly blocked doorway on the ground floor and the large arched 'bob' opening in the gable with two projecting iron brackets for a gallery below. Cornish examples almost always have attached chimneys but no evidence for this or for a boiler house remains. No surface remains of the shaft are visible.

Interior

The interior is very unusual in retaining some of the timber beams and stairs on the upper floors. There are also cast and wrought iron brackets, bolts and plates. All traces of the Cornish beam pumping engine are long removed.

Reason for designation

Listed as an unusually complete example of a Cornish engine house, itself a rarity in Wales. It also has important group value with the nearby former British Ironworks office and foundry quadrangle.

Scheduled Ancient Monument MM216.