Monument record 10968 - 18th century iron foundry at the Roodee

The iron foundry at the Roodee is first recorded on Stockdale's map of the city in 1796 as an L shaped structure with what appears to be a small wharf or harbour attached (CHER 11151). It certainly survived until the mid 19th century when it was replaced by the Roodee Gasworks (1). In the 1830s it was also recorded as a paper mill (10)

Documentary research has indicated that the mill was founded in 1772 but it was not until 1790 that the site comprised a jointly run foundry and paper mill under the ownership of Jospeh Pearson and William Harrison. The evidence suggests a new phase of construction at the site at this time. An inventory and sale notification prepared for the site documents two steam engines on site; one large 18 horsepower engine and drive shaft powering both mill and foundry, and a second smaller six horsepower powering a number of machine tools. Clean water was provided to the main engine via a well about 2.4m in diameter. The inventory confirms that the foundry produced brass and iron (2)

<1> Matrix Archaeology, 2000, River Wall Restoration, Old Port, Chester: Archaeological Assessment and Watching Brief (Interim Report), R3160 Gaz 11 (Client Report). SCH6255.

<2> Malley M., 2007, The Chester Roodee Iron Foundry and Paper Mill (Article in Journal). SCH6120.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<4> L - P Archaeology, 2004, Old Port, Chester; Archaeological Excavation Report., R2731 (Client Report). SCH4847.

<5> Stockdale, 1796, A Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6510.

<6> Cole, G, 1805, Chester 1805 (Map of) (Maps and Plans). SCH6511.

<7> Neele, Samuel John, 1809, Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6512.

<8> Batenham, 1821, A Plan of the City of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6513.

<9> Cole, G, 1851, Chester 1851 (Map of) (Maps and Plans). SCH6514.

<10> Wood, J, 1833, Plan of the City of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH5258.

<11> Thomas, T, c.1853, Plan of the City and Liberties of Chester with Recent Additional Buildings (Maps and Plans). SCH6515.