Building record 3884/0/180 - 14 & 21 Rock Street

This large leather works was built in the late 19th century making it one of the earliest examples of its type. It is a brick-built four-storey 'L' plan building with a range of single-storey north-lit sheds to the rear.

{1} Leather works, Rock Street
Building shown as leather works on map of 1926 (with possibly earlier origins). The structure is still in existence and in use by 'Tom Butler Organsiation Ltd Nuclear Protexctin Equiptment, flower Hire Service, Industrial Cleaning materials'. The building is of four storeys and eight bays. The bottom storey has an inserted garage, but the rest of the building would appear to remain intact. Film 20 photo 6, 8,9,10.

{2} The style of the surrounding houses and the appearance of the street on the 1885 OS map suggest a construction date in the early 1880s for this large former leather works. If this is the case then the factory is one of the earliest surviving purpose-built examples of a leather factory. Comparison of successive editions of OS maps suggests that the factory developed in three major phases.

{4} A Historic Building Recording was undertaken in 2019. A good example of a well-preserved factory from the late Victorian period. The core building of the complex appears to be a rectangular three-story brick building with a black slate roof. A number of secondary extensions appear to have been added in the 20th century, north and west of the original rectangular brick structure. The ground floor of the factory consisted of the following: a large open space that worked as a garage, an office space, stairs in the east and west ends that were leading up to the floors above, a rear extension partly made of wood and partly covered by a glass roof and a second extension with a modern air shelter and a small working shop. The internal wooden staircases have been in their present position potentially since the end of the 19th century. It could also be stated that the windows and western extension of the factory date back to the 1920/30s. A 20th century brick extension to the north of the factory was an air shelter. This was constructed during the cold war era by the owner and had a number of thick steel doors inside. In the western end of the brick extension, north of the factory, was a small workshop that had a few fitted tools and machinery, which appeared to be from the beginning of the 20th century as well as a rusty cast iron heater. Overall, a large part of the original structure is still standing.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100290.

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 26 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Undated, 14 and 21 Rock Street, Wellingborough, BF103764 (Archive). SNN113937.

<4> Carlsson, C, 2019, Historic Building Recording: 21 Rock Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN114210.

Record last edited

Feb 19 2024 12:09PM