Repair and Consolidation of Ridsdale Engine House

Description

The remains of the engine house at Ridsdale are a visible and enigmatic reminder of Northumberland's industrial past; a short lived venture yet with a lasting legacy. The construction of Ridsdale Ironworks saw the creation of the settlement of Ridsdale to house workers brought into this remote area to produce pig iron for the construction of Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge in Newcastle. The engine house (Grade II listed), although generally sound, is a Scheduled Monument at Risk, with serious structural issues at a number of locations that require attention to remove this important monument from the Heritage at Risk Register. A condition survey of the structure (Repair and Consolidation of Ridsdale Ironworks- Doonan Architects Ltd 2016) revealed that two sections were in imminent danger of collapse. In partnership with Historic England, a management agreement has been secured with the landowner and scaffolding has been erected to protect the structure from further decline until work can begin. As part of the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership, funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund, repair and consolidations works to the standing masonry of the Engine House are to be carried out between July and October 2018. In order to meet this need the Authority is inviting tenders from eligible contractors able to deliver these services.