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OLD DEVONPORT
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© Brian
Moseley, Plymouth Webpage created: October 08, 2022 Webpage updated: October 26, 2022 |
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SOUTH SMITHERY (S126) The South Smithery is on the south side of The Camber adjacent to the South Saw Mills, Building Slip number 5 and the Scrieve Board, in South Yard. It comprises two buildings, the Old Smithery, at the western end, and the New Smithery at the eastern end, both linked together in the centre. The Old Smithery is said to date from 1776 while the New Smithery is said to have been built between 1852 and 1855. Old Smithery
The south side of the Old Smithery building,
South Yard. The Old Smithery is of two storeys and originally had a courtyard with forges arranged around the sides and heavy casting taking place in the open central courtyard. The walls are of random rubble and squared, coursed limestone blocks. The courtyard was roofed over and added to the main building during the early part of the nineteenth century. New Smithery
The east frontage of the New Smithery
building, South Yard. Based on H-shaped iron columns, the New Smithery building was constructed of limestone and coursed blocks laid between the columns. The lower parts of the walls are of squared rubble. It has large glazed panels with sheet iron louvres above, and open timber louvres on the upper central roof level. There is also clerestory glazing. Therehave over the years been many alterations to the whole building. The South Smithery ceased to be used as such in 1987. Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and succeeding legislation the South Smithery has Listed Building Grade 2* status. The Old Smithery is the oldest surviving smithery in and of the Royal Dockyards. According to National Heritage 'the New Smithery is a remarkably complete example of its type and has no parallels outside the Navy yards.'
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