Farsite - A group dedicated to the preservation of the Foster and Rastrick Foundry site

Ideas invited for historic foundry

Ideas are being invited on new uses for protected buildings at one of the most historically important sites in Stourbridge. The former Foster, Rastrick & Co. foundry in Lowndes Road has been empty since 2004 when the foundry ceased production (the most recent manufacturer using the site having been Sidney Smith Castings). The Foster, Rastrick name has a place in the history books for having manufactured, in 1829 and within this foundry building, the first steam locomotive to run on rails in America, known by the name the “Stourbridge Lion”. However the foundry building and other buildings on the site are themselves recognised to be of national importance for the architectural merit of their design, particularly the early use of iron in building construction; in fact there are in total five listed buildings on the site including a disused canal-side dry-dock with workshops and the former foundry manager’s house. The site itself also holds archaeological importance in explaining the significance of the river and adjacent canal to the early development of Stourbridge town itself.

However the demise of the foundry business has created an uncertain future for all of these historic buildings, noted by inclusion on the English Heritage “Buildings at Risk” register.
Now the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust is calling upon anyone with ideas on how these buildings can be returned to a sustainable use to put forward their suggestions, contributing to an Options Appraisal report the Trust has commissioned from Lichfield-based conservation architects Brownhill Hayward Brown. Work on the Options Appraisal began in June this year following a request made to the Trust by FARsite, a local group formed to campaign for the preservation of the Foster And Rastrick site. The consultants are due to report next spring, following a period of public consultation planned for early next year on the options that by then will have been short-listed. The West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust is a voluntary organisation, a registered charity (number 516158) with membership open to all, and has recently completed a project to rescue from dereliction the Harris & Pearson office building in Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill. The Trust is also pursuing a scheme to secure the future of Corngreaves Hall in Cradley Heath, and has current campaigns to save other historic buildings at risk including Lye & Wollescote Cemetery Chapels.

As Trust Chairman Alan Smith MBE explains: “Often the security of our historic buildings is put at risk because their original purpose is no longer viable, so we need to identify a new purpose that enables these important buildings to be returned to economic use. Even putting aside the irreplaceable loss of this important part of Stourbridge’s heritage, in these days of environmental concerns it is far better to re-use existing buildings than waste resources through the expense of demolition and constructing new buildings in their place. These buildings were built to last and have many more years of life left in them; we just need to find them a new purpose. The Trust has therefore commissioned this consultancy to gather together all ideas on new uses for these buildings, to analyse the suitability including costs and benefits of each one, to result in recommendations on how best to achieve a sustainable future for each building. This work has only been made possible by financial support from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Quadrant Land Partnership, and Dudley Council: their support is appreciated and is a measure of the importance being attached to finding a workable solution to this challenge.” Site owners, Quadrant Land Partnership add: “We are pleased to support this work by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust. The re-development of this site is a long-term project that has the potential to bring benefit to the town and we look forward to being able to consider the recommendations of this Options Appraisal report.” If you would like to contribute ideas on how to re-use buildings on the foundry site, please write to David Trevis-Smith, Project Director, West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, Company Offices, Canal Street, Stourbridge DY8 4LU, or telephone 01527 465260. Trust membership forms can also be requested if you would like to get involved with the work of the Trust, or to be kept informed of progress with this and other Trust projects. BACK