Bristol Temple Meads Station
Beginning its construction by the Knights Templar, on the meadows of a 12th Century Temple Church and sometimes referred to as ‘Holy Cross’, this is where Temple Meads Station derived its name.

It was built in Tudor gothic revival style by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and is used in much of his work. Completed in 1841, the old station is an important landmark, being one of the first railway lines in Britain. It is the worlds oldest surviving purpose built railway terminus and was regarded as ‘a wonder of the Victorian age’.

This stone built Grade 1 listed building is adorned by terracotta chimney pots, each over some seven feet high. Surviving for so many years under quite vigorous conditions, time had taken its toll and forty five new chimneys were required as part of the stations overall restoration programme.

Bovis construction approached Shaws to evaluate what could be done prior to reporting back to English Heritage. We visited site to study the best approach and recommended some unseen design alterations to ensure the longevity of the new chimney pots.

The modelling of the six different designs was quite intricate. The models are made oversize to accommodate the clay shrinkage and accuracy was paramount in ensuring the originals were precisely matched in colour and design.
The new chimneys are a good example that methods used in the 19th Century are still used in the 21st Century, and Shaws still retain all the crafts, skills and dedication necessary to produce such work.