Built between 1850-1871, the paint store is the only surviving building on the site with fire-resistant features It was latterly used as an electroplating shop & is now a workshop.

The north elevation originally had four tall round rubbed-brick headed windows set in rectangular recesses (two now used as doors). The windows on the south side are blocked as are three tall arches with no recesses on the east and west elevations.

Louvered ventilation of the rooof meant that the building was not only semi-fireproof, buit also suitable for storing gaseous materials such as paint, or for founding.

The fact that some of the metal joints of the roof are wedged rather than bolted would suggest an early date while the ornamental fleur-de-lys pattern struts would seem to be borrowed from contemporary railway station practice.

Description from record TR 04 SW 296:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:

750/0/10035 NEWTOWN ROAD
18-SEP-01 Paint Stores and electroplating shop a
t Newtown Railway Works
GV II
Paint store, later electroplating shop. c1865, built for the South Eastern Railway. Built of yellow brick with a Welsh slate roof with central glazed louvre. This is a single storey building approximately 12.2m x 8.9m divided into two units by a brick party wall. The north elevation originally had four tall, round, rubbed-brick headed windows set in rectangular recesses; the first and third from the left of these are now doors. The tall round-headed windows set in rectangular headed recesses on the south elevation are blocked, as are the three tall arches with no recesses on the east and west elevations. The west elevation has a later lean-to added. Plain roof with central raised glazed louvre on the ridge.
Interior: This was not seen at inspection (July 1998) but is reported to have a central dividing wall and iron roof trusses.
History: This building appears first on the OS map of 1871 where it is marked as a paint store, but was latterly used as an electroplating shop. It dates probably from the 1860s. The building was semi-fireproof, built as being suitable for storing combustible and gaseous materials such as paint. This is the only early building surviving on the Ashford works site with fire resistant features. The metal trusses are built up from cast iron struts and wrought iron plates, some of the joints are wedged rather than bolted and such construction would point to an early date.
Reason for listing: Included for its group value at the centre of the early railway works layout and for its special design features as a paint store within the locomotive establishment. Reference: RCHME, The Railway Works, Ashford, Kent, 1990.
Listing NGR: TR0181541639
(1-2)

Additional bibliography. (3-4)

Historic England archive material: BF092237 NEWTON RAILWAY WORKS, NEW TOWN ROAD, NEW TOWN, ASHFORD Miniature Format Film Number: 116/K,138/X,138/Y,138/Z

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> RCHME, 1991, The Railway Works Ashford, RCHME 1991 Historic Building Report (Unpublished document). SKE6767.

<3> Museum of London Archaeology, 2008, Newtown Railway Works, New Town Road, Ashford: A Standing Building Survey Report (Unpublished document). SKE16614.

<4> Alan Baxter & Associates, 2004, Ashford Railway Works - Historic Buildings Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE16615.