Building record 1624/30/1 - Briar Court (former leather dressing works)

This site is a three storey boot and shoe factory on the south side of Spinney Road consisting of 10 by 2 bays. It was built circa 1890. There is evidence for an earlier building attached to the western end, but this no longer survives. Now converted to residential use.

{1} Industrial buildings, Spinney Lane. There were two large buildings on either side of a trackway off Spinney Road. One of the buildings had been demolished, but the other is still in existence, though appears to have been partially demolished. It comprises a three-storey structure with a large number of bays. Red brick factory. Now in use by 'Flair Flooring' Would appear to have been either a boot and shoe or leather works. Film 3, photo 3,4

{2} History:
1884 Surviving building is not shown, but earlier buildings which the surviving range was built up to are shown (OS 1:2500, XL.1)
1899 Shown on OS 1:2500 XL.1
1924 Desbribed as a leather dressing works on OS 1:2500, XL.1
1963-4 Shown on OS 1:2500, SP9470 and SP9570
2000 Flair Flooring
10 by 2 bay three storey leather dressing works. It has standard cast-iron windows with segmental heads throughout. The windows have blue brick sills and the segmental heads are also emphasised with a blue brick upper course. The cogged eaves also incorporate a blue brick course. Decoration was clearly of importance in this building as the corners have limestone quoions and the Flemish bond of the gable end has header courses of buff brick to contrast with the standard red. There is an original entrance in the second bay from the east in the north elevation, but there is no sign of an original taking-in door. Later doors have been inserted into the east elevation; one at ground floor level, a taking in door at first floor level in the adjacent bay and first and second floor fire escapes at the northern end. There is evidence for an earlier building attached to the western end which is shown on the 1924 OS map, but this no longer survives.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Irthlingborough Site 7 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Undated, Briar Court (formerly Flair Flooring and formerly a leather dressing works), Spinney Road, Irthlingborough, BF103684 (Archive). SNN114093.

Record last edited

Sep 14 2022 4:11PM