Roberts Mart Mill, Leeds

In 2004, AOC Archaeology Group undertook building recording of Roberts Mart Mill, a prominent industrial site on the River Aire near the centre of Leeds. It represented one of the last of such renovations of these old industrial buildings along the riverside and was subject to a planning condition requiring a detailed photographic, written and drawn survey and analysis.

The historic building survey was preceded with a rapid desk-based assessment to put the site into context before the on-site work. It found that there was an earlier water-powered, then later steam-powered, flax mill on the site in 1791, which burnt down in 1823. However, a new mill was built a year later using fireproof techniques with cast-iron columns supporting brick arched roofs. New mills were added in the 1850s and the 1890s, the later building added when the building became a print works owned by Roberts Mart Mills & Co.

The building recording included internal elevations of the original engine house and boiler house, which, although the plant had long since been removed, gave an idea of the original workings of the power transmission system through the scars and features that remained. After AOC Archaeology Group successfully completed the historic building recording survey, all three buildings were renovated by Conran and Partners into residential apartments and commercial office space.

AOC Project Manager: Diana Sproat
Client: City Loft Developments
Main Contractor: Gleeson Building
Architect: DLA Architecture Limited
Interior Designers: Conran and Partners
Consulting Engineer: WSP