Monument record 3884/0/132 - 12 West Street

Cardboard box factory converted from a smithy. 12 West Street consists of three buildings grouped around an irregularly-shaped yard on the north side of West Street. On the street frontage is a two-storeyed house gabled east-west with its principle elevation to the street. It has a datestone of 1877. Attatched two-storey ranges form the north and south sides of the yard. Both were in existence by 1866, when the complex was described on the Ordnance Survey map as a smithy. Around 1900 the smithy was converted for use as a cardboard box factory by C Martin and Company. The complex is built principally of brick, with pantiled roofs, but the blind west elevaton is of coursed ironstone. The site was derelict in 1999 and is now demolished.

{1} Small industrial complex behind "West Street Cottage 1877". Number of industrial buildings and four terraces all erected on plot of land belonging to the main house. All the buildings are now derelict apart from the four terraces to the rear. Film 21 photo 1-5.

{3} 12 West Street consists of three buildings grouped around an irregularly shaped yard on the side of West Street. On the street frontage is a two-storey house, gabled east-west with its principal elevation to the street. Set above the entrance is an 1877 datestone. Attached two-storey ranges form the north and east sides of the yard. Both were in existence by 1886, when the complex was described as a smithy (OS). Around 1900 the smithy was converted for use as a cardboard box factory by C Martin & Co. The complex is built principally of brick, with pantiled roofs, but the blind west elevation is of coursed ironstone and possibly indicates origins before 1877.
The house has athree-bay south front with a central entrance and end stacks. The windows, now blocked have shaped lintels and there is a moulded and dentilled eaves cornice. On the east gable there blocked joist pockets and other scars relating to the former range through which the yard access passed. The workshop ranges are plain, with large first floor windows suggesting workshop use. Features commonly associated with a smithy, such as an open ground floor or a large stack for the hearth, may have been obscured when the building changed use.
Single-storey building abutting the west side is mid-20th century and may be associated with the factory, perhaps warehouse and despatch block.

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

<2> Walker C., 2012, Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at High Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire December 2012, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109268.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 33 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<4> Historic England, Undated, 12 West Street, Wellingborough, BF103808 (Archive). SNN113947.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 3:54PM