SNN110713 - Condition Survey Report: Pearce's Leatherworks Northampton

The Pearce Leatherworks has been in the same ownership since its first building by the W. Pearce & Company Ltd. in 1939. The majority of the purpose built leatherworks fabric is intact with minor modifications are limited to secrions of the rool openings in the factory walls and internal reordering.The leatherworks had not been long built when part was commandeered by the War Office for aircraft production, there are some extensions and outbuildings which date to th¡s period. The buildings were used byW. Pearce & Company Ltd. for the production of leather from 1939 until 2001, when cheaper products from China and elsewhere made leather production at this site unviable. As a result the majority of the building is empty and unused, save for a small operation by ldentity Store and administration continues in some of the offices. There has been some piecemeal intervention in terms of ancillary buildings and more recently land has been sold off for housing developments. There is an evergreen planning permission to the east of the present factory personal to W Pearce & Company Ltd. The owner recognises that there are benefìts in looking at the site holistically and is responsible for commissioning the Conservation Plan, Management Plan and Masterplan for the site