| Description | Round Foundry (latterly the Victoria Foundry), Holbeck. The earliest buildings on this site comprise the remains of the earliest surviving engineering foundry complex in the world; the only complex known to be earlier (Boulton and Watt's Soho Foundry 1795) retains none of its original industrial structures. The Foundry was in continuous use as an engineering works from 1796 to 1895, and was occupied by three main firms Fenton, Murray and Wood, who established the works (1796 1826); Fenton, Murray and Jackson, their successors (1826 1844); Smith, Beacock and Tannett (late 1840s 1895). Fenton, Murray and Wood were pioneers in all facets of engineering, and were instrumental in the perfection of the steam engine and the development of the marine engine and the steam locomotive; they were probably the first firm in the world to manufacture and market machine tools, and Matthew Murray made significant contributions to the development of flax spinning machinery and the iron framed fire proof mill. The nucleus of late 18th/early 19th century buildings (Nos. 1, 2, 2a, 3 and 4) which front Water Lane and the east side of Foundry Street appear to comprise the green and dry sand foundries, fitting shops and offices of the original works. With the footprint of the round fitting up shop which gave the foundry its popular name (Area of Archaeological Potential I), these buildings are of international archaeological importance. The remainder of the buildings on the site (1810s 1840s, Nos. 11, 6, 2b; 1840s 1880s, Nos. 16, 5, 5b, 7, 19, 9, 13, 18, 12, 10, 15, 14 and 8) represent alterations and extensions to the original complex made by Fenton, Murray and Jackson and by Smith Beacock and Tannett. FMandJ were specialists in locomotive manufacture, and were responsible for the training of some of the most important railway engineers of the next generation. Smith Beacock and Tannett were machine tool and crane manufacturers of international reputation, and again served as the training ground of many of the important engineers of the late 19th century (notably the Brothers Krupp). Although the buildings and archaeological remains of these two later phases are not absolutely of international importance, their association with the earliest remains and their potential to illustrate the whole sequence of the development of the engineering industry render them of national importance. |