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Latitude: 51.7266 / 51°43'35"N
Longitude: -3.075 / 3°4'30"W
OS Eastings: 325844
OS Northings: 203644
OS Grid: SO258036
Mapcode National: GBR J2.2H6S
Mapcode Global: VH79K.NV6R
Plus Code: 9C3RPWGF+JX
Entry Name: British Colliery Pumping Engine House
Listing Date: 28 July 1997
Last Amended: 28 July 1997
Grade: II
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 18595
Building Class: Industrial
ID on this website: 300018595
Location: On the site of the British Ironworks about 100m north east of the former British Ironworks office and foundry quadrangle.
County: Torfaen
Town: Pontypool
Community: Abersychan
Community: Abersychan
Locality: The British
Built-Up Area: Abersychan
Traditional County: Monmouthshire
Tagged with: Engine house
A Cornish beam pumping engine-house built by the British Iron Company to drain its mines. The engine-house stood within the complex of buildings of the British Ironworks, most of which were dismantled in the 1880's following closure of the ironworks in 1883. The British Ironworks began production in 1827 and operated several coal mines in the vicinity. The pumping engine was installed in 1845 to assist drainage from the deep levels.
A sandstone engine house of standard 'Cornish' type, but better finished than many. It has the remains of a Welsh slate roof of low pitch. A rectangular three storeyed tower of coursed squared stone. The long walls have an arched opening on each floor with cill and voussoir head; these have all been blocked with brick. The north gable wall likewise, but with three different sized openings, of which only the ground floor one is blocked. The south gable 'bob' wall has a partly blocked doorway on the ground floor and the large arched 'bob' opening in the gable with two projecting iron brackets for a gallery below. Cornish examples almost always have attached chimneys but no evidence for this or for a boiler house remains. No surface remains of the shaft are visible.
The interior is very unusual in retaining some of the timber beams and stairs on the upper floors. There are also cast and wrought iron brackets, bolts and plates. All traces of the Cornish beam pumping engine are long removed.
Listed as an unusually complete example of a Cornish engine house, itself a rarity in Wales. It also has important group value with the nearby former British Ironworks office and foundry quadrangle.
Scheduled Ancient Monument MM216.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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