Following the planning decision for the redevelopment of North Street, Santon the developers agreed to our proposal to salvage rather than demolish some of the heritage iron and steel structures of the Phoenix Ironworks, which represent a unique record of Lewes’ industrial past. We have concluded that the best buildings to keep are the Foundry Gallery and Foundry Workshops for use as the basis of a future creative industries hub in Lewes.
Dating back to 1884, the Foundry gallery and workshops are the most historically significant and structurally interesting buildings on the site. They are fit for purpose for easy partitioning to provide 17,060 sq foot of single and double-height workshops with an adjoining venue and large-scale fabrication space. The truss lengths within the Foundry workshops are the smallest on site, and therefore the most easy to transport and store.
LPR architects have drawn detailed disassembly diagrams for the two buildings we intend to keep – see below. These will be discussed with Santon and their contractors shortly. The salvage operation will take place this autumn. Once dismantled, the structures will be stored until a suitable site has been secured. LPR is in discussion with a number of site-owners about their future use.
Want to help?
Saving the Foundry structures will allow our town to retain the last remaining examples of a Victorian iron foundry in the south-east of England. But this will involve considerable costs, including for transportation and storage, some of which will need to be met by LPR. We plan to meet with Santon to discuss cost in detail and will share this information as soon as we can. If you would like to be involved in the project or help to support it financially, please email us at lewesphoenixrising@gmail.com
How the structures can be disassembled. Click the image to view more detail
Credit: Rabble Place Architects
The foundry structures to be salvaged. Click the image to view more detail
Credit: Rabble Place Architects