SNN108435 - Former Gasworks at East Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire: Building Survey

Linden Ltd is proposing to construct a new supermarket with associated parking facilities on the outskirts of Oundle. All existing buildings on the site will be demolished to make way for the new development. These include a large derelict warehouse in the north-eastern part of the site, probably built around 1975-8, two late Victorian buildings, associated with the gasworks, and two early 19 century stone outbuildings near to the East Rd frontage on the plot to the south of the gasworks. A heritage assessment produced in June 2012 established the low archaeological potential of the site because of ground truncation and contamination in connection with use of the site as a gasworks. However, a survey of the surviving gasworks buildings and the stone barns was requested by the Planning Archaeologist as a condition of the planning permission. A Level 1 Survey comprising a photographic record of the stone outbuildings was carried out. They are shown on a town map of 1850 and are thought to be early 19th century in date. (The roof truss in Barn 2 is of sawn and bolted timbers). Both have been extensively altered. Barn 1 was widened when it was converted to offices with only the south-east corner of the east elevation surviving. Nothing was visible internally as the walls were all clad. Barn 2 is a workshop with mid 20 century inserted staircase and mezzanine floor in the centre south part of the building. There is evidence for a hayloft at the north end of the building, otherwise no other original features survive. The connecting single-storey office building was constructed after 1978. Further research has established that the larger of the two surviving buildings on the gasworks site comprised a combined workshop, store and garage, not offices as previously thought. The Governor building originally had two entrances on the long axes of the building which were subsequently converted to windows and a new entrance was added on the north elevation. Nothing survived internally and this building was probably most recently used as an office.