Speedwell Works (J L and CO Ltd)
SPEEDWELL WORKS (J L AND CO LTD), OLIVER STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391019
- Date first listed:
- 23-Apr-2004
- List Entry Name:
- Speedwell Works (J L and CO Ltd)
- Statutory Address:
- SPEEDWELL WORKS (J L AND CO LTD), OLIVER STREET
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391019
- Date first listed:
- 23-Apr-2004
- List Entry Name:
- Speedwell Works (J L and CO Ltd)
- Statutory Address 1:
- SPEEDWELL WORKS (J L AND CO LTD), OLIVER STREET
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:
- SPEEDWELL WORKS (J L AND CO LTD), OLIVER STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Northampton
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 76544 62087
Details
725/0/10042 OLIVER STREET 23-APR-04 Speedwell Works (J.L. and Co. Ltd.)
II Boot and shoe factory. c.1895 with minor later additions and alterations. Orange-red brick with some dark and blue brick dressings and with slate roofs with end stacks. T-plan. There is a 3-storey, 11-x-4-window, range fronting onto Oliver Street with a 6-x-3-window range extending to its rear. Both ranges are contemporary and constructed in the same brick. A 2-storey range, probably a warehouse, projecting south-eastwards from the rear of the rear range also appears to be original. A single-storey top-lit range linking this with the front range appears to be secondary, though present by 1899. The front to Oliver Street has top-opening windows with segmental arches to ground and 1st floors and flat lintels to top floor. Goods entrance to centre left and doorway to far left of ground floor and taking-in door to right of 2nd floor. Similar windows to left side. Many large windows to rear wing to maximise the availability of light for the workshops. There are extra tall windows on the rear gable with their heads placed above the level of the upper floors with the light directed by interior timber 'hoppers' downwards. A blocked doorway on a rear corner retains an iron crane. INTERIOR. The little altered interior, still used for the boot and shoe manufacture for which the factory was built, retains the traditional layout. This includes the clicking room with benches at the windows, the making and finishing rooms, the last stores, the sales and management suite and an internal hoist from the making rooms to top floor stores. SOURCE. EH Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site Report No.170.
This is a significant survival of a smaller factory still producing high quality gentlemen's shoes by traditional processes. It was virtually all built at the same time and retains its internal plan and many traditional fixtures and fittings.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 492708
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Other
Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry Report,
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 24-Jun-2026 at 23:18:11.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.