News
Nov 14. 2025
A Legacy Beneath the Surface
The story of Heritage House begins deep underground. Originally opened in 1853, the Calcutta Mine in Swannington was a hard-working coal mine supporting the growing industrial landscape of North West Leicestershire. For 24 years it extracted coal from the rich local seams until 1877, when its purpose dramatically shifted.
As mining in the Coalville area pushed deeper, water became a critical threat. To protect the surrounding collieries from flooding, the Calcutta Mine shaft was transformed into a powerful pumping station, removing up to 54,000 gallons of water per hour. Driven by an engine engineered by Robert Stephenson & Co., this pumping station became an essential piece of the region’s mining infrastructure, operating continuously until 1947.
Though the coal dust eventually settled, the site’s significance endured.
A New Vision: Roshal Space Consultants
In January 1991, Roshal Space Consultants Ltd acquired the disused site and the remnants of its historic buildings. Moving from a modest office suite in Coalville, Roshal began the ambitious task of transforming the former industrial complex now a Grade II listed structure into a headquarters that reflected both their values and their craft.
Over three decades, the site has evolved into a multi-disciplinary design and manufacturing hub, including:
Despite the expansion, one guiding principle remained constant: preserve the heritage, celebrate the history, and let the architecture tell its story.
Preserving History, Designing the Future
Founder and CEO Robert Watson envisioned a headquarters where industrial character met contemporary design excellence. Working closely with English Heritage and local conservation officers, Roshal created a space where original 19th-century features are showcased not hidden.
Two standout examples include:
The Entrance Cube
A dramatic 6m x 6m glass and steel cube, positioned directly above the original mine shaft. A glass bridge connects the cube to the main building, symbolically linking past and present.
The Heritage Mural
A striking grey-toned wall mural inside the main office, capturing the shadowy forms of the original steam pumping machinery an artistic echo of the site’s industrial roots.
The result is a headquarters that acts as both a workspace and a living museum an architectural narrative woven from brick, glass, steel and history.
Heritage House Today: A Living Project
Design and build is at the core of Roshal’s identity, and Heritage House continues to evolve accordingly. As new materials, technologies, and AI-driven solutions reshape commercial interiors, the building itself serves as a real-time showcase of innovation.
From its life as a coal mine, to a century as a pumping station, to its current role as Roshal’s creative and manufacturing centre, Heritage House stands as a testament to adaptive reuse honouring the past while designing for the future.
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