Beneath the streets of Ancoats...
Recent findings by our archaeology & built heritage team in Manchester
Our Archaeology & Built Heritage team recently carried out an archaeological excavation at the former site of F.S. Cooper Ltd - an iron foundry once located on the southern side of Chapeltown Street, Ancoat, commissioned by Capital & Centric.
The excavation revealed the remains of a 19th-century iron foundry, including casting pits, core stoves, a brick-lined well, and the foundations of cranes used in the production of engineering components. The foundry operated from the 1830s to the 1960s, evolving through multiple phases and owners, including Cooper & Whittaker and F.S. Cooper Ltd.
Key discoveries included:
- Brick foundations of the casting shop and ancillary buildings
- Core stoves used in mould-making
- Bases for rotary and overhead travelling cranes
- Casting pits with refractory brick linings
- Iron hooks and sand cores used in the casting process
These findings offer rare insights into Manchester’s jobbing foundries - small-scale operations that produced custom ironwork for local and global markets.
Engaging the local community
The excavation also benefited from contributions by Richard Cooper, descendant of the foundry’s last owners, who shared valuable family history and memories of the site, helping us piece together the story of the foundry.
We were also fortunate to receive historical photographs from the Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry archives, showing the foundry in full operation. These shots provide an incredible visual context for the remains uncovered, capturing the last traces of a once-bustling industrial site.
As the site prepares for its next chapter - a 15-storey residential development, aptly-named Ferrous - this project ensures the legacy of Manchester’s industrial heritage is preserved and celebrated.
