Mansfield, Notts (Rock Valley)

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 15 Jul 2012

The main entrance to the former Metal Box plc site off Rock Valley (as the road is known). Barringer, Wallis & Manners began a business on this site in the late 19th century. The site was divided into two separate sections, 'Rock Valley Mill' at the north end producing mustard and 'Rock Valley Tin Works' to the south. The company became Barringer Wallis and Manners Ltd in 1895. Over a period of thirty years the site was expanded massively with four new three-storey blocks being built. In 1919 a four-storey block was designed by Mansfield architects, Cook, Howard & Lane. The new building with its prominent landmark clock tower was completed in 1927. The mustard business was sold to Colman's of Norwich in 1919 and in 1939 Barringer Wallis and Manners Co. Ltd was subsumed into the Metal Box Company. When Metal Box plc ceased using the site and the premises were bought by Crown Speciality Packaging, although they have now moved elsewhere. Most of the buildings were demolished in 2011 leaving the clock tower standing alone. The bridge carries St Peter's Way (A6009) over this area. On 23 October 2023 the local planning committee passed a development application for 27 bungalows and 47 apartments in two blocks, one on each side of the clock tower, on the site.

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