NHER 62855 (Building record) - Cooper Roller Bearing Factory, Wisbech Road

(S1) describes this as a white brick single storey building in Flemish bond: ten bays to south of entrance and four to N. Bays separated by plain pilasters. Red brick details: dentil cornice and bland of red continuing line of splayed window heads across bays, ditto lower at sill level on south, most 4 bays; higher on rest where windows are deeper. Further unit beyond north wing features clock set in minor gable.
Entrance: gateway with to north an entrance lobby or lodge: The name 'Cooper Roller Bearings' (in blue)
and 'Co Ltd' (uncoloured) cut deep into white stone/composition fascia below red brick dentil cornice over full-length window of square glazing blocks to right of doorway. John Selby noted large timber framed buildings behind the front range: no longer in use but interesting.
Of importance as Cooper’s Roller Bearings was a local firm founded in 1894 and a major employer in King's Lynn. The Jodrell Bank telescope is carried on Cooper roller bearings.
The date of the factory frontage onto Wisbech Road is not known. However, the site has been occupied by Coopers - this site is labelled on (S2) surveyed in 1904 as 'Steel Works'. Thomas Cooper established his works in King's Lynn in 1897 but it is unclear when he took ownership of this site.
The mapped extent of this record reflects the extent of the modern landholding. However, the older buildings including the factory frontage described above are to the north of the site, close to Wisbech Road.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 19 June 2019.