William Birch & Sons, a family owned firm of builders from York – with an award-winning track record in historical refurbishment – has been helping to make the architecturally important buildings in these areas fit for their new life in the 21st century.
Birch completed a phase of enabling works on three listed buildings – 101 Water Lane, the Dry Sand Foundry and the JHT Buildings – that date from the late 1700s and early 1800s. This involved minor demolitions, and opening up and cleaning works, so that full structural, architectural and archaeological surveys could be carried out and the extent of fabric repairs determined.
The £3.3 million contract, which was awarded by developers CTP St James, also required a substantial amount of structural, masonry and architectural fabric repairs, including re-roofing, be undertaken to stabilise the existing framework and provide a fully repaired envelope prior to the fit-out.
Paul Goyea, Birch’s construction director, said: “The Round Foundry is a unique development with a rich heritage that identifies the buildings as representing the last remaining sand foundry in the world. Working with Daniel Murray of CTP St James and Ken Moth of BDP Architects has enabled us all to breathe new vitality into the listed buildings. Although they have taken careful handling – requiring an eclectic mix of civil engineering and sensitive refurbishment – it is a very rewarding experience to have been so closely involved in giving these monuments of the Industrial Age a new lease of life in the 21st century.”
Simon Potter, William Birch contracts manager, explains that: “At the Dry Sand Foundry, one of the most symbolic buildings in the scheme, the piling works and some of the excavation works were carried out under the watching brief of the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service. There was also an element of new build as the unit was fully fitted out for single tenancy office use, including the construction of a new mezzanine slab level and associated stair and lift core, including floor, wall and ceiling finishes.”
Similarly, the JHT Buildings, were fitted out for multiple tenancy office space, including the construction of a new external stair and lift core. They are now occupied by an architect practice and a firm of barristers.
Living up to its ‘wet’ name, 101 Water Lane is now operating as the Midnight Bell pub.
The next phase of development is expected to start in the next 12 months.
