Monument record MDO20192 - Wykes Court, 32 Rax Lane, Bridport

A late 18th /early 19th century industrial complex used for sailcloth, twine and net manufacture. It comprised an owner’s or manager’s house, ranges of industrial buildings, stables and outhouses set around a garden or courtyard. It was demolished in 1976.

William Fowler, an important figure in the early development of the modern rope and twine industry, lived at Wykes Court in the later 18th century. He had built up a successful manufactory of sailcloth, fishing nets, line and twine, but became bankrupt in 1813 and Wykes Court passed to William Hounsell and Co. Hounsells set up some weaving shops at Wykes Court, until their move to North Mills and in 1825 they let the weaving shops to Tucker & Whetham, sailcloth makers. <1> <2>

The Bradpole tithe map shows the site with a series of buildings shown around the north, east and south sides and the apportionment describes it as ‘Wicks Court House, Offices & Garden’ owned and occupied by Thomas Hounsell. <3>

The Wykes Court works comprised an owner’s or manager’s house on North Street in the northwest corner of the site, a range of outhouses and stables around the north and east sides, a range of outhouses along the south side and a gatehouse in the southeast corner.

The owner’s or manager’s house was a two-storey red brick house with a low-pitched hipped slate roof with wide eaves and brackets. It had five ranges of sash windows and a central doorway with fanlight in a three-centred arched opening with moulded archivolt and moulded roundels to impost blocks. To the east was a three-storey red brick extension with a parapet which rises in the centre to form a pediment with oculus in tympanum. <4>

Around the northeast and western sides of the site were two ranges of stone industrial buildings. One range was of four storeys and five bays and the other was of three storeys and three bays. Both had central doorways with winch hoists above. To the southeast were a range of stables and other outhouses. <5>

In the southeast corner was a stone gatehouse with tiled roof , hipped at east end. It had a high three-centred arched carriage entrance with planked double doors. To the west, along the southern side of the site was a range of brick and stone outbuildings with taking-in doors and winch hoists.

The buildings were demolished in 1976 and is now Chardsmead Court car park.

<1> Short, E B, 1982, ‘Bridport Textile Industry’; Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries 31, 208 (Article in serial). SDO10520.

<2> Martin, C, 2003, The Bridport Trade. Rope & Net : Hemp & Flax, 28-31 (Monograph). SDO10501.

<3> James, R, 1845, Bradpole Tithe Map, plot no. 8 (Map). SDO10515.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1305068 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1305069 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/063 South West Textile Mills Project (Unpublished document). SDO17323.

Record last edited

Dec 21 2022 3:48PM