Listed Building record MDO12158 - Warehouse, 40 St Michael's Lane, Bridport

An early 19th century three storey stone warehouse with a through-passage in the south end bay. A narrow two-storeyed mid-19th century red brick extension is attached to the rear (west) elevation and may have housed the machinery at the head of the former open rope walks. The warehouse was part of James Edwards premises in the early 19th century and was subsequently taken over by Ewens and Turner, then by Hounsells (Bridport) Ltd, and subsequently by William Gale and Son. It is currently occupied by Livingstone Textiles.

An early 19th century three storey warehouse of coursed rubble with a gabled roof with corrugated metal covering and an apex brick stack at the north end. It is of five bays, upper two storeys with windows in alternate bays. The windows have three-piece lintels and the building has a brick dentil cornice. There are central taking-in doors on the east elevation with a hoist beam, the ground-floor door is to the north of the north bay. There is a through-passage in the south end bay, which may have been inserted later, which gives access to the rope walks behind. A narrow two-storeyed mid-19th century red brick extension is attached to the rear (west) elevation and may have housed the machinery at the head of the former open rope walks, which ran westwards back from the warehouse to the river. The interior has a stone flag ground floor and the upper floors are of timber supported by cylindrical cast-iron columns.

The blocked openings in the front elevation suggest that the building was originally built as a pair of cottages (4). The through passage may also be a later addition.

The building was used as a warehouse and counting house by James Edwards in 1836. The building was taken over by Ewens and Turner in the 1870s , then by Hounsells (Bridport) Ltd in 1918 and subsequently by William Gale and Son in 1925 (1) (2). It is one of the best-preserved early buildings in this area (3). It is currently occupied by Livingstone Textiles.

<1> Sims, R, 2006, The Rope, Net and Twine Industry of Bridport. 2) Factory Mills (Monograph). SDO10541.

<2> Bone, M R, 1985, 'The Bridport Flax and Hemp Industry' Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society Journal, 25-6 (Article in serial). SWX1452.

<3> Williams, M, 2006, Bridport and West Bay. The buildings of the flax and hemp industry, 41-42 (Monograph). SDO10498.

<4> Jones, B V and Williams, M, 2002, Bridport: An Assessment of Townscape & Buildings, 60 (Unpublished document). SDO10497.

Record last edited

May 4 2016 5:14PM