1 Dr, Ceram, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7LQ, UK, geoff.edgell@ceram.com
ABSTRACT
The Round Foundry in Leeds was the first site in the UK where all of the trades were brought together for the production of static steam engines. The buildings, eleven in total, were built in the nineteenth century, the latest in around 1875. They included cast and wrought ironwork and massive timber roof trusses, all of which were of interest; however this paper will focus on the brickwork fabric. The buildings were largely derelict but there was a desire to bring them back into use as apartments, offices, restaurants and bars. This paper describes the investigation into the properties of the brickwork and how the site was developed to be suitable for modern use. Of particular relevance was the compressive strength of the walls of what had been at one time the massive machine assembly hall. The buildings were listed as being of historical interest and hence retention was a priority but this was in circumstances where local damage due to frost, water, salts and movement was evident. Consequently the desire to retain appeared at times to conflict with need to make commercial decisions about the value and earning potential of the buildings in the future.
KEYWORDS: historical brickwork, round foundry, sampling, testing
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