1938 British Ropes Limited

Bridon Ropes PLC, Balby Carr Bank, Doncaster

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

The workshop building is iconic in appearance and is a renowned local landscape.

Age

The 1938 exterior design of this long single storey range of buildings, which housed the "British Ropes South Ropery", is characteristic of its time and representative of the popularity and success of the company at that time. It was a notable employer locally.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

The British Ropes workshop entrance consists of a long single storey range of buildings, probably steel-framed with brick façade to the road and possibly a corrugated asbestos-cement roof. Each bay has a pair of 5 x 5 small paned metal windows under jointed concrete lintels. Each window has 3 x 2 opening light closer to the top, probably horizontally centre-pivoted. The metal windows could be steel, by Crittall because of the buildings age, although the style looks much older and like cast iron. A tall roller-shutter door occupies the central bay of 3, under a brick parapet and triangular pediment with plain concrete copings and a central circular ventilation opening. British Ropes Limited is seen in raised lettering, upper case and Sans Serif, probably cast in concrete in 3 sections, that extends the full length of the pediment. Below and above the door is a similar 1938 date stone. To each side of the door is a contemporary vertical decorative feature 5 brick stretcher wide in stack bond with half-brick gaps between. These start from the building's brick plinth and rise to eaves level where they meet a sting course shaped to match the profile of the brick feature. The outer ends of the 3 bays have plain brick piers with no relief but carry cast iron rainwater hoppers and down pipes for roof drainage. The pattern of 2 profiled and 1 brick pier is repeated along the length of the building to the east.

Historic Interest

Bridon Ropes PLC can trace its history in Doncaster back to 1789. Formerly British Ropes Limited, which had its formation in 1924 - making wire ropes for bridges, cranes, elevators and mine shafts. The large North Ropery was built in 1935, with the South Ropery and the workshops opened in 1938. Bridon Ltd is now part of the larger Bridon Bekaert and is still a significant local employer. (Records of Bridon PLC)

Landmark Status

The 1930s building housing the workshops of British Ropes South Ropery stands in a prominent position on the side of the road through this industrial area. The firm was a large local employer and the building itself is well known and recognised by those walking or driving through the area.

14 Aug 2023

14 Aug 2023