Ministry of Defence Number L168 (Engine House and Mechanics' Shop)
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NUMBER L168 (ENGINE HOUSE AND MECHANICS' SHOP)
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1251159
- Date first listed:
- 26-Nov-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Ministry of Defence Number L168 (Engine House and Mechanics' Shop)
- Statutory Address:
- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NUMBER L168 (ENGINE HOUSE AND MECHANICS' SHOP)
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-08-28
- Reference:
- IOE01/03632/03
- Rights:
- © Mr Alan Simpson. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1251159
- Date first listed:
- 26-Nov-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Ministry of Defence Number L168 (Engine House and Mechanics' Shop)
- Statutory Address 1:
- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NUMBER L168 (ENGINE HOUSE AND MECHANICS' SHOP)
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NUMBER L168 (ENGINE HOUSE AND MECHANICS' SHOP)
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Epping Forest (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Waltham Abbey
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 37718 01050
Details
ROYAL GUNPOWDER FACTORY TL3700 MOD Building No L168 3/10016 (Engine House and Mechanics' Shop) at TL3772 0105 GV II*
Mechanic's Shop and Engine House. 1857. Flemish bond yellow brick with hipped slate roof. Single-storeyed rectangular plan with engine house housed in tower to north east; engine house extended c1859 by flat-roofed Motor Room; in c1881 the Mechanic's Shop was extended to the south and the west by a further 2 bays, the remodelling probably including the replacement of original walls. Brick dentil cornices and brick corner pilasters, paired to Mechanic's Shop. North elevation of Mechanic's Shop has late C19 segmental red brick arches over double doors with overlight to right and over four 16/16-pane sashes. Similar fenestration and arches to other elevations. Engine House has semi-circular gauged brick arch with plain imposts and keystone to tall blocked window opening to south; similar arches to 3 small windows to upper stage of west elevation and to doorway and lunette window to south, the latter having bracketted sill inscribed "Erected 1857". Motor Room has concrete lintels over mid C20 door and window. Interior of 1857 structure: octagonal cast-iron columns with ornate capitals; north-east column has rounded section probably originally for swing jib. A matrix of pierced iron joists probably doubled as strengthening-ties and for locating beams for brackets for line shafting and pulleys. Iron roof trusses with decorative compression members. Late C19 king-post roof to southern extension. A plan of 1856 shows foundations for a 30-horsepower Compound Steam Engine. Sited to north of its contemporary boiler house, L176 (qv). The engine drove six incorporating mills in Building L169 (demolished), the first of the steam-powered incorporating mills to have been built on the site, which lay immediately to the south and has left the scar of its gabled roof against the south wall of the Engine House; a concrete floor overlies the "shaft alley" which housed drive shafts etc which transmitted power to the incorporating mills and may have survived. (RCHME report, 1993).
Listing NGR: TL3771801050
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 433790
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
The Royal Gunpowder Factory Waltham Abbey A Survey, (1994)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 03-Jun-2026 at 21:52:27.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry