Former Weighbridge House at Auckland House

Cadw's description

Location

Auckland House is located on the w side of Gilwern Village at end of short driveway off Church Road, immediately w of canal. Former weighbridge house located immediately to left of entrance gates.

History

Probably built between 1819 and 1822, contemporary with the iron warehouse that now comprises Auckland House. Auckland House was built 1819 as an iron-warehouse for Joseph and Crawshay Bailey of Nantyglo, ironmasters. The erection of the warehouse was given permission in 1819, and was sited at the end of the tramroad from the Nantyglo Ironworks, the tramroad completed in 1814. The new building was one of the world’s first railway warehouses. The Baileys however built a separate new tramroad from 1821 along the south side of the Clydach Gorge from Nantyglo to Govilon, and erected a warehouse at Govilon. The Gilwern warehouse was sold to the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Company in October 1821 for £80, with the agreement that the Baileys would give up possession in twelve months when the building was to be adapted house the Llanelly wharfinger. Extended probably soon after January 1820 when the ironmaster George Brewer of Coalbrookvale also required storage space; in 1820, the Beaufort Ironworks was also using the warehouse. Extended after 1822 to house the wharfinger and subsequent workers at the wharfage: this probably accounts for the added end hipped bays. The original use declined after 1828 when new railways from the Monmouthshire Canal to the south captured most of the local iron trade. Still a warehouse when marked on the 1847 Tithe Map. Converted to house mid-later C19, the date of the present arrangement of fenestration. Shown as Auckland House on 1878 25- inch map.

Exterior

Small rubble-built single cell building with slate roof and small rubble chimney stack to S gable. C20 door and window to N gable end.

Reason for designation

Listed as an unusual industrial survival; group value with Auckland House, the latter also a rare and early industrial survival, being among the first railway warehouses in the world, built 1819-22.