Monument record MWX200 - Ropewalks, 40 St Michael's Lane, Bridport

A late 19th century two storeyed red brick covered rope walk, probably built by Ewens & Turner. The walk was attached to the rear of a warehouse at 40 St Michael’s Lane. The ground floor was probably open for ventilation, with warehousing and workshops above. Originally, this walk was much longer, extending as far west as the River Brit.

A late 19th century gabled twine walk or rope walk of fifteen bays, attached to the rear of an earlier warehouse at 40 St Michael’s Lane was built on the site of an earlier open rope walk. It is of two storeys and built of red brick and was probably built by Ewens and Turner. There are segmental blocked openings in the south side bays, possibly originally for ventilation. The building is said to have formerly contained tracks on the ground floor. The upper storey windows include several equally spaced loading doors. Early 20th century maps indicate that the ropewalk formerly extended further to the west, as far as the River Brit. This ropewalk is the best-preserved 19th-century walk building in Bridport. <1-3>

Rope Works. Site of open ropewalk with a 15 bay gabled twine walk or ropewalk along the north side. Built of red brick either in the very late 19th or early 20th century. Relatively well-preserved for a ropewalk in a town-centre location. There are segmental blocked openings in the south side bays, possibly originally for ventilaton. The building is said to have formerly contained tracks on the ground floor. The upper storey windows include several equally-spaced loading doors. The ropewalk is attached to the rear of an earlier warehouse building fronting St Michaels Lane (site 100). Early 20th century maps indicate that the ropewalk formerly extended further to the west.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map 1:500, Dorset Sheet XXXVIII.10.6, Surveyed 1887, Published 1888 (Map). SWX1328.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1902, Dorset Sheet XXXVIII.10 (Map). SDO10517.

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

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/063 South West Textile Mills Project (Unpublished document). SDO17323.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1305400 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 19 2022 4:12PM