Monument record MDO20147 - Stover Place Works, St Michael's Lane, Bridport

The Stover Place Twine and Line works were built by William Edwards & Son around the north and west sides of the former cattle sale yard off St Michael’s Lane, Bridport, probably soon after WWI. They continued in operation until the mid-1960s. Much of the works has been demolished, but a number of former buildings still survive in St Michael’s Trading Estate.

The Stover Place Twine and Line works were built by William Edwards & Son around the north and west sides of the former cattle sale yard off St Michael’s Lane, Bridport. Between 1895 and 1914, Edwards had acquired a number of properties in this area including 1-9 Stover Place. The works, themselves may have been built after WWI, using the large profits generated by the production of war materials, such as submarine nets. A plan of the works in 1929 shows the extent of the factory with large covered walks to the north and west of the site. The works were powered by a gas engine at this time. The works included a saw mill, tarring house, mechanic’s shop, drying yard, stores and offices, etc. They formed part of the extensive Edwards manufacturing works on the southern part of St Michael’s Lane, together with the St Michael’s Works net factory which lay to the south of the cattle sale yard. Production continued at the Stover Place works until the mid-1960s, its closure being part of the rationalisation and reorganisation following the formation of Bridport Industries Ltd in 1963. (1) (2) (3) The development of the site from a series of open plots, including a number of open rope walks, to the almost complete coverage of the area by the buildings of the works can be traced on the 1890 to 1930 Ordnance Survey maps. (4) (5) (6) Much of the site of the works has been cleared to create the St Michael’s Trading Estate, but a number of former Stover Works buildings still survive, including 46-48 St Michael’s Trading Estate.

Record last edited

May 21 2008 9:24AM