Wrought Iron Architectural Metalwork
Designed & manufactured in the U.K
By: Chris Topp & Co Ltd, North Yorkshire
Tel: 01845 501415
Temple Works Testing.
We have just finished the testing of various wrought iron tie-bars at a listed building in Leeds. We did visual inspections of around 200 bars, pull tests on a welded mild steel & wrought iron joint, a experimented with a ‘Bong test’.
Temple Mill is a Grade I listed building built by Ignatious Bonomi between the years 1838 – 1843 for John Marshall and Company for use as a flax spinning mill. The main mill range was completed in 1840 and the office/counting house block on the north side was completed in 1843.
The building represents the zenith of the Marshall Mills flax business in Leeds and had acquired a legendary reputation within a few years of its construction. The Egyptian design has been attributed to the Egyptologist Joseph Bonomi, the architect's brother, Egypt having an important flax industry in the ancient world.
The building is a brick and cast-iron frame with an Ashlar facade. The unique roof is flat with asphalt and lead coverings and conical glazed skylights. Prior to the 20th Century the roof had a grass covering in place of the asphalt and it is rumoured that sheep once grazed happily on the surface! The main mill range is a tall single storey and basement with a two storey range and former engine house on the north side. The front elevation consists of a battered wall with coved cornices and 18 recessed columns with papyrus capitals, between the columns there are small wood-framed pane windows. This Egyptian Revival style to the front elevation of the building is an exact replica of the Temple at Edfu. The interior of the single storey area has a cart-iron frame composed of columns in the style of papyrus bundles, which support brick shallow groined vaults pierced by circular skylights. Two sets of wrought-iron tie-bars link the heads of the columns together. The original clock in its moulded stone surround and metal face is still in position on the north wall with painted numerals and long minute hand. There is a stone spiral staircase to basement and upper floors that rises further east, near the entrance lobby.
The building has recently suffered a very severe failure on the front facade due to water ingress, it is currently being dismantled to allow repairs to take place. The majority of the building appears to be dry, but some of the roof lights show signs that they may begin to leak. There are large areas of the outer walls showing severe wetness, with algae growth and paint flaking away, where gutters have presumably failed.
