Wolverton Works Building history
The original late 1830s Wolverton Works’ buildings were demolished after a decade or so as the Works expanded replaced by buildings from the 1850s which still exist today. A few are listed due to their Royal connections and are the Triangular building containing the Reading Room and the 1898 built former Royal Train Shed. These are all located along the former London & Birmingham Main Line part of which was used for McConnel Drive which now forms the rail, access to/from the Works.
The route of the original main line was abandoned in 1889 when rerouted around Wolverton and the third Wolverton station opened.
McConnel Drive gives access to a superstore and various distribution companies using former Works’ sheds demonstrating the size of the Work’s footprint from Victorian times to the late 1980s. This is when the 76 acre site began to be sold off with about half of the site redeveloped as shops and car-related businesses. Another former major area of the Works is now Glynn Square with various shops and the Town Hall, the former Works Training School.
A swathe of major buildings dating from 1865 alongside the canal fell into disuse in the late 1980s and St Modwen have allowed them to deteriorate towards dereliction. These housed the Forge, Smiths’ Shop, Carpenters’ Shop, Saw Mill and Power Station and are in a dangerous condition. Many items are still contained within these buildings.
The route of the original main line was abandoned in 1889 when rerouted around Wolverton and the third Wolverton station opened.
McConnel Drive gives access to a superstore and various distribution companies using former Works’ sheds demonstrating the size of the Work’s footprint from Victorian times to the late 1980s. This is when the 76 acre site began to be sold off with about half of the site redeveloped as shops and car-related businesses. Another former major area of the Works is now Glynn Square with various shops and the Town Hall, the former Works Training School.
A swathe of major buildings dating from 1865 alongside the canal fell into disuse in the late 1980s and St Modwen have allowed them to deteriorate towards dereliction. These housed the Forge, Smiths’ Shop, Carpenters’ Shop, Saw Mill and Power Station and are in a dangerous condition. Many items are still contained within these buildings.