One of history’s engineering giants will be watching over HBPW’s latest project from the quiet of his final resting place in St Matthew’s Churchyard Holbeck in Leeds.
The firm is designing the structures and foundations for three industrial units on Springwell Road, which is only a short distance from Matthew Murray’s grave off Domestic Street. He was the man said to have inspired the inventor of the Rocket steam locomotive, Robert Stephenson.
“The former 60m x 13m mill site is being re-developed by our sister company, HB Projects, on behalf of a private client,” said Partner, Emyr Parry, “and we will be working on the scheme’s drainage and masonry specification as well as the structures and foundations.
“It was only when we began work on the project that someone pointed out the final resting place of Matthew Murray. Whilst this is only a relatively small job we are all mindful of the need to watch our step. We wouldn’t want Mr Murray turning in his grave for all the wrong reasons!”, added Emyr.
The mill’s original floor slab will remain in place, enabling the scheme to be completed both quickly and at a lower cost. It will incorporate parking for 15 vehicles.
Murray is credited with building the world’s first commercially successful steam locomotive in 1812 and was also responsible for many pioneering breakthroughs in mill machinery engineering.
