Usworth, Washington Wire Rope Works

HER Number:
6749

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Usworth, Washington Wire Rope Works

Place:
Usworth

Map Sheet:
NZ35NW

Class:
Industrial

Site Type: Broad:
Metal Industry Site

Site Type: Specific:
Wire Mill

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
Commenced in 1887 by R.S. Newall and Son, manufacturing wire ropes. In 1903 a draft agrrement was drawn up to lease Washington Wire Rope Works from R.S. Newall and Son Ltd to the Washington Chemical Co Ltd (HER 3056). The rope works covered two acres of land. An earlier lease in 1892 is referred to with Frederick Sirling Newall (grandson of Hugh Lee Pattinson of the Chemical Works). The schedule lists a dwelling house, offices, works , stables, railway sidings and other buildings, plant and machinery. Washington Chemical Works purchased Magnesia Cork Coverings in 1906. A lease of 1908 allows any activity for carrying on the business of cork manufacture. Magnesia Coverings becomes Newalls Insulation Co Ltd the same year. The cork plant was on the site of the wire rope works and an extension is added. Demolished by May 1979.

Easting:
3186

Northing:
5544

Grid Reference:
NZ31865544

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 6749 >> Archaeo-Environment Ltd, 2004, Desk Top Assessment of the former Washington Chemical Works; A.L. Hind, 1976, History and Folklore of Old Washington, p 107; Sunderland Echo, 1960; Tyne and Wear Archives 1759/33 (1903); Tyne and Wear Archives 1759/32 (1908);