Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

William Pickersgill, between 1902 and 1905. Rectangular plan, 2-storey, basement (to rear only) and attic building on sloping site. Large modern building and linking sections to rear not included in listing. Mixture of classical and other detailing; projecting skews and skewputts. Predominantly squared, coursed granite rubble; ashlar dressings. Base course; 1st floor cill course; double eaves band; eaves cornice. Predominantly regular fenestration.

SW ELEVATION: 4-bay elevation with projecting flat-roofed single storey entrance hall to centre. To ground floor of single storey section, timber-panelled door with narrow margin lights in opening with shaped lintel; above breaking eaves cornice, open-topped pediment flanked by finialled consoles. To attic floor, gable to left, long pilastered dormer to right.

NW ELEVATION: 6-bay elevation. Corbel table underneath eaves band to right.

NE ELEVATION: 3-bay elevation. Full height canted bay window to left; to centre, projecting link sections to extension to ground and 1st floors; to roof, gable to right.

SE ELEVATION: M-gabled elevation.

GLAZING etc: predominantly single-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows; several rooflights.

Statement of Special Interest

B-Group with Former Smithy, Furnace and Foundry Shop, Former Carriage and Wagon Shop and Former Workshop.

The Inverurie Locomotive and Carriage Works played a significant part in the development and history of Inverurie and the wider industrial and economic history of the North East. The works retain a high value within the industrial and railway history of Scotland, especially as it is one of only three locomotive works sites in Scotland which remain appreciably intact. Within the context of the United Kingdom as a whole, the buildings of Inverurie Locomotive Works make a valuable contribution to railway architectural heritage, and are particularly representative of the later generation of locomotive works.

During the earlier part of the nineteenth century, railway locomotives throughout both England and Scotland tended to be supplied by private engineering manufacturers. However, by the 1840s, when the major main-line railways were becoming established, several of them began to establish large locomotive depots, which were initially principally used for maintenance and repairs. As the decade moved on and the popularity of rail travel swiftly grew, it became clear that the private locomotive builders could not cope with the increased demand for new engines. Consequently, several of the railway companies began to establish their own locomotive construction works, some of which were purpose built from scratch. This trend continued throughout the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth century. However, following the rationalisation of the industry in the 1960s and after, the great majority of these works were closed, and the majority subsequently demolished.

In 1898, the Great North of Scotland Railway began construction of a new locomotive works to replace their works at Kittybrewster, which were considered too small and out-of-date to cope with the company's needs for manufacture and repair of locomotives and rolling stock. The new works were located on a 25-acre site in Inverurie. William Pickersgill, GNSR's locomotive superintendent, designed the complex. The works were completed by 1905.

The works complex consisted of a boiler, erecting and machine shop (demolished), paint shop (demolished), smithy, furnace and foundry (see separate List Description), shop and carriage and wagon shop (see separate List Description) and a smaller double-aisled building (see separate List description) and the managers drawing office. To the north-east of the works, is a small estate of purpose-built workers' housing (once known as 'the Colony'). The works closed in 1969.

The works at Inverurie were, for their time, advanced in terms of layout and equipment and included a 60 ton electric travelling crane for easy movement of locomotives over each other in the erecting shop, and a very wide use of electricity for lighting and powering various machines (electricity, taken from the works' current, was also supplied to the workers' homes, an unusual luxury for houses of this class at the turn of the century).

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.