INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY ruffiffi AUTU M N 2 003

THE BULLETIN OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY FREE TO MEMBERS OF AIA

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The annual AIA Affiliated Societies Weekend, the market, produced by such makers as Armfield, INDUSTRIAL held at the lronbridge lnstitute, Coalbrookdale, Gilkes, Green & Carter; Howes & Ewell and over | 2-l 3 April was one of the best attended for Macadam Bros. in Belfast. He discussed the ARCHAEOLOGY many years and the thene of 'Power in Corn and principles of the various types of turbine, and Textile Mills' proved a popular one indeed. noted that between 1 869 and 1 950 there were NEWS L26 117 in operation in Suney, of which 30 were in 2OOB Ray Riley mills and another 30 in waterworks. Alan Autumn suggested that similar comprehensive studies

Honorary President Beginning the proceedings appropriately with an might be undertaken for other counties. Prof Angus Buchanan analysis of waterwheels, Jeff Hawksley outlined Switching from general principles to l3 Hensley Road, Bath BA2 2DR the various methods that have been employed to restoration practicalities, and from water to wind Chairman maximise the amount of energy from the water power, John Boucher began by arguing that the Mike Bone Sunnyside, Avon Closq Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2UL available. Sluices were used to increase the speed best method of conserving windmills is to keep Vice-Chairman of flow of slow running streams, but undershot them in operation, the minimisation of Prof Marilyn Palmer wheels suffered from the dissipation of energy maintenance costs being a vital consideration. School of Archaeologiral Studiel The University, the blades, retaining original fabric as far as Leicester LE1 7RH caused by the collision of water with While the possible, has be replaced, steel is Secretary known as shock loss; their efficiency was only 30- rotten wood to David Alderton 33%. Wheels using the gravity principle were by frequently a replacement for iron, and present 48 Quay Street, Halesworth, Suffolk lPl9 8EY contrast 60-650/o efficient. Low breastshot wheels day health and safety requirements such as fire Treasurer were 40% efficient and high breast or pitchback escapes have to be built in, as does electricity for Richard Hartree Stables Cottage, Sibford Fenis, Banbury OXl 5 5RE wheels were an improvement on this. Jeff evening visits. The use of modern equipment lA Review Editor illustrated the importance of bucket shape in unavailable to the original builders, such as Dr David Gwyn efforts to retain water for the longest possible power tools and cherry pickers, facilitate the Nant y felin, Fford Llannllynfri, Pen y Groel time, and commented on factors controlling lifting of sails and indeed caps, at the same time Caernarfon tL54 6LY wheel speed: flow head, drag from the stones allowing a new cap to be fabricated on the lA News Editor Dr Peter Stanier and the governor. ground. Inevitably money is an ever-present issue. 49 Breach Lane, Shaftesbury Dorset SP7 8LF Water turbines, for which an efficiency of 70- In the final talk on Saturday morning, Mike Affiliated Societies Officer 80% is claimed, may have been especially Williams outlined the features of the steam Prof Ray Riley important in coal-short countries like France with power system in textile mills: engine house, 8 Queen's Keep, Clarence Parade, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 3NX abundant water supplies, but they were engine, boiler house, chimney and power Conference Secretary nevertheless much used in Britain after the transmission, whether by shaft or rope drive. Tony Parkes 1880s, and in the 1920s for the generation of Having done that he reported on an investigation 60 School Lane, Hill Ridware Rugeley WS1 5 3QN electric power. Alan Crocker has made a special into steam power in south west England, where Endangered Sites Officer Dr Mike Nevell study of turbines, and from catalogues has found some 92 sites were discovered. In contrast to University of Manchester Archaeology Unit, University that there was an almost bewildering array on Manchester, where demolition is the usual fate, in of Manchester Oxford Road. Manchester M13 9P[ Librarian and Archivist John Powell do lGMf, lronbridge, Telford, Shropshire TF8 7AW Recording Awards Officer Dr Victoria Beauchamp 3 Parsonage Court, Parsonage Crescent, Walkley, Sheffield 56 5BJ Sales Officer Roger Ford Barn Cottage, Bridge Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV1 5 5AF Honorary Vice-Presidents Sir Neil Cossons John Hume Stuart B. Smith Council Members Dr Robert Carr Dr Paul Collins (co-opted) Barry Hood (co-opted) David Lyne Michael Messenger Dr Mary Mills Peter Neaverson Liaison Officer Simon thomas AIA Office School ofArchaeological Studies, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH I 0l l6 252 5337, Fax:01 15 252 5005 e-mail: [email protected] Website: wlvw. industrial-archaeology.org.uk

COVER PICTURE Daniel's Mill is a particularly attractive industrial site near Eridgnorth in Shropshire. lt was visited on the occasion of the AIA honbridge Weekend on | 2 April 2003 6ee this page for report) Photo; Peter Stanier Ironbridge Weekend delegates inspecting the large waterwheel at Daniel's Mill Photo: Peter Stanier

2 INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 the South West re-use is common. Furthermorg end of the century a large turbine was put in, from Ken Major and Alan Stoyel, have been many sites showed evidence of steam power working until 1959. One wonders aboutthe hours received, and it is planned to proceed on a county having been added to the original water power involved in research were the exercise undertaken basis. Furthermore, some 30,000 millers and structures. for other large mills in the country. millwrights are included in the archive. lt is After lunch a visit was made to Daniel's Rounding off the weekend, there were three anticipated that the archive will be on-line in (corn) Mill in Bridgnorth, where flour is ground by members' contributions. Tony Bonson reported on August 2003. Derek Brumhead spoke about the courtesy of a 38-ft diameter watenruheel. Half the Park (corn) Mill at Congleton, Cheshire, a Grade development of power at the 1788 Ton Vale group was conducted round the mill by a guide ll* listed building, where not only the conversion (textile) Mill at New Mills near Manchester. lt is whose idiosyncratic delivery was pitched at plans of 1833 signed by William Fairbairn have Grade ll listed, but lacks machinery; its future is Women's Institute level, despite the many survived, but also much of the machinery doubtful. Derek led a visit to this mill at the trenchant questions put to him. For some, the featuring in the drawings. The mill is thus an Manchester AIA conference in 2000, and for highlight was a Severn Valley train puffing along important testimony to the work of this those present the slides shown had additional the viaduct behind the mill; the organisers had to celebrated engineer. Tony Yoward treated the relevance. admit that this was an unscheduled add-on. audience to an account of his early involvement The conference attracted 5l people, Subsequently the derelict Benthall (corn) Mill in lA, and then described the corn mill archive suggesting the popularity of themes focussing on adjacent to the lron Bridge itself in lronbridge which he, together with SPAB, have created. particular industries. However, corn and textile was inspected. Jonathan Briggs produced some Some 20 substantial donations, includinq those mills may be a hard act to follow. historic photographs which gave rise to lively discussion about what was now to be seen. Further tests of the imagination were made at the after-dinner quiz, where bizarrely enough the right answer to many of the questions was not 'yes' or 'no', but 'nonsense'. Chris lrwin was the wtnner. The Sunday morning session was kicked off by Alan Stoyel, who has undertaken a thorough survey of textile mills in south west England. Reliance was placed on water power for much longer than in Yorkshire, for example, and indeed a water-powered mill was actually built as late as 1890, while water-powered machine shops were by no means rare. Yet few turbines were installed. A small number of fulling mills has survived - the louvres on one suggesting that cloth had been dried within the mill. Not only were mixed use mills present, but also some mills had provision for hand processing, scotching the notion that hand looms belong exclusively to the domestic phase of the industry. It may not have been a common event, but certainly from time to time post mills were shifted from one site to another in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Peter James described the trials and tribulations of moving Lowfield Heath post mill, near Ganruick airport, some three miles to another site much more recently, in 1987. As John Boucher had earlier demonstrated, modern technology facilitated dismantling, transfer and rebuilding, and similarly as much as oossible of the old fabric was retained. Purists may object, but without such strategy a working mill would be an impossibility, while in any case repairs are constantly carried out during the life of any building. In the final presentation Jeremy Milnn described in considerable detail the evolution of power provision at Quarry Bank Mill, at Styal in Cheshire. His research made abundantly clear that as the mill grew in size and as new technology made its appearance, so there was constant modification to power supply. Since the mill was built in I 784, it is hardly surprising that the tracing of change has been very much a piece of detective work. Thus watenruheels were added in 1801 and 1807, an iron suspension wheel was in place by '1824 1 820, in a Boulton & Watt steam engine was installed, a relatively small horizontal engine came A steam train of the Severn Valley Railway passes over the viaduct that overshadows Daniels Mill to power the mechanics' shop, and towards the Photo: Peter Stanier

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 3 Reopening an underground building-stone quarry at Gatton, Surrey

At the writer's suggestion a snall underground and occasional documented crown-hole collapses Samples from the quarries, and from extant stone quarry at Tower Wood, Gatton, was point to one or two areas of certain underground medieval or later buildings have been examined reopened by menbers of the Wealden Cave and quarrying alongside Gatton Bottom Road, and by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X- Mine Society (WCMS) in August 2000. The quarry tvvo more where this is probable. Access to four ray diffraction analysis, and for porosity and was last entered in the 1970s, so the location, small areas of tunnels near Gatton Bottom Road dimensional stability on wetting and drying. The layout and depth of the underground galleries has occasionally been possible since the 1950s, stone is so variable in composition that, in theory were known. The prinary reason, paft-funded by although by 2000 all access was again sealed. matching stone in buildings to specific beds in the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) was to secure access Possibly all these small workings were part of one working faces in specific quarries should be to record and sample the building-stone beds in or two large quanies, with intercommunication possible. However, as to date quanies have been (up detail for scientific analysis, Gatton's stone was a now impossible because of roof-falls. sampled at only six widely spaced locations variant of Reigate ftone, used extensively for fine It was decided to reopen Tower Wood quany to seven beds at any one site) for over 7 kms ashlar and carved freestone in most inportant in Gatton, as the exact position and underground along the outcrop, There are no particularly good medieval buildings in London and the Home plan were known. With the agreement of the matches, and a far denser sampling grid, say Counties, including Hanpton Court and the school authorities, funding from HRP and every 100 metres, might be required to make this Tower of London. practical direction by WCMS, a very large possible. The Chaldon-Merstham quarry tunnels mechanical excavator was hired for a day. The complex alone contains at least 17 kms of PaulW. Sowan quarry floor was known to be 7.4 metres below accessible tunnels, but would be exceedingly ground level and the former crown-hole collapse difficult to sample on this scale, if only on account powering The Reigate Stone Research Project aims at a was dug out to that depth, allowing access to the of the practicalities of electrically- better understanding of the composition and tunnels. A permanent access shaft of concrete driven core sampling drill so far underground, and seasoning and weathering properties of this rings was installed and fitted with a locked the cost of scientific analysis of samples retrieved. quarrying unique British building stone, and research into manhole cover to protect access. As the main focus of medieval appropriate techniques for its conservation. Often The pillar-and-stall quarry consists of seven appears to have been in the Reigate-Merstham- described as a calcareous sandstone, the stone in or eight sub-parallel extraction tunnels running Chaldon part of the Upper Greensand outcrop fact contains very little detrital silica and calcite in steeply down-dip, interlinked by remarkably few (with extraction east and west of this known or samples analysed to date. The stone is, however, and narrow man-ways through the intervening strongly suspected to be of relatively modern essentially siliceous. The rock is extremely porous pillars. Ceiling heights are even lower than in the date), the project team would like to re-enter a and swells and contracts far more, on wetting Merstham and Chaldon quarries, around 1.3 to Reigate quarry to take samples. However, apart and drying, than other building stones, factors 1.4 metres. As well as being very low (flat-out from the Colley Hill hearthstone mine that probably explain its poor weathering crawling over accumulated mud is essential to (stratigraphically too high and known to be in an characteristics. Established stone treatment visit some areas), the quarry was found to be very advanced state of collapse) it is believed that no methods for limestones and sandstones are, wet, although not actually flooded. Large underground workings in Reigate have been therefore, not necessarily appropriate or affective volumes of rejected rock or quarry spoil are accessible for over a century. Although some are for Reigate stone, so HRP wishes to secure fresh stacked behind dry-stone walls down one side of entrance and crown hole collapse locations samples for trialling new conservation each gallery. Numerous roof-falls have sealed off known accurately, nothing is known of the technioues. some parts, although no new roof-falls have underground layouts or the conditions of the Gatton is a small rural parish in east Suney, occurred since the 1970s. The very narrow quanies. Much of the Upper Greensand outcrop lying astride the Upper Greensand outcrop entrance drift to the southern extremity of the in Reigate is under residential property, where between Reigate and Merstham. As in almost all accesslble working was identified, although this examination by WCMS tends to be welcomed the eight or so mining parishes from Brockham to is now sealed and not recognisable at surface. only when collapses in well-manicured lawns or Godstone, Gatton had its share of underground Quarry walls and working faces have tool- near exoensive houses occur! However, one mining and quarrying, and subsequently mining marks (picks and wedges) characteristic of possible 'greenfield' site known to have been in subsidence features. William Moore's building dimension stone extraction, and low-level axle use in the mid-nineteenth century has been accounts for Loseley House (rebuilt 1561-69) marks on tunnel sides and pillar corners identified, and discussions opened with the mention stone purchased from quarries at indicating the use of low wheeled trolleys for occuprer. Gatton. John Aubrey, writing in the late stone movement (whereas sledge ruts are the Another possibilig under consideration has seventeenth century, specifically mentions norm in the Merstham and Chaldon quanies, and been the location and descent of a well near underground quarries in the parish. The extensive iron tramway plates were laid underground at Colley Hill which has been recorded as having outbuildings of Gatton Hall and the tiny parish Godstone). In one up-dip working bay there is an broken through ancient building-stone galleries church are built of the local 'Reigate stone'. entirely different pattern of toolmarks interpreted (at a lower stratigraphic level than the location). This, Quarrying was canied on in the nineteenth as evidence that at this point rough lumps of rock hearthstone mine tunnels at that century. Gatton was amongst the 109 quarries for use as hearthstone were mined (probably by in publicly accessible open space, would require surveyed by Charles Barry H.T De La Beche, and for Gatton Hall) for whitening floors, negotiation with the National Trust, careful William Smith and C.H. Smith as a conseouence of doorsteps and hearths. planning to avoid damage to an important yet, measures to ensure the fire at Westminster Palace in 1 834. Their report No datable finds have been discovered botanical site, and elaborate with reference to the selection of stone for the although mid-nineteenth century clay tobacco public safety. There have, too, been one or two new Houses of Parliament was published in 1839. pipes were recovered from nearby underground small crown hole collapses in the immediate area Published mineral statistics in the 1850s quarries in the past. lt seems likely that Tower in recent years, so an examination of the ground indicate commercial quarrying, although this Wood is, or is part of, the quarry known to have here could be justified on health and safety appears to have ceased by the 1870s, for Gatton been active in 1 839-58. grounds anyway, with the possibility of does not feature in the annual reports resulting from Core samples from several beds visible in the archaeologically valuable information being the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act of 1872. quarry walls have been taken for analysis, and an gathered at the same time. This option is not at Sparse documentary evidence, field walking, accurate survey and photographic record made. present under active consideration.

4 INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 D.K. Parkinson's Coal Yard, Hordle, Hampshire: a functional site within a socio-political landscape

This paper investigates the almost symbiotic studied, elements of traditional lA. Extracted by conugated iron clad, timber-framed shed (aligned relationship binding consuming society and local mining, prepared for sale by engineering, and north-south). The eastern side remains open to commerce. lt comnences with a conventional, distributed via road, rail, canal, sea, and - in the the elements, whilst the enclosed western side functional, archaeological exploration of an case of the Berlin blockade (June 1948 to May features two steel-framed windows. lt appears to active, local coal yard, and then introduces varied 1949) - by air. However, little archaeological have been designed for garaging larger motor political, environmental, consumer, and ethical attention has been focused unon domestic coal's vehicles. Currently it provides covered issues that nay identi{y 'the coal yard' as a penultimate port of call - the local coal yard. accommodation for a forklift truck and, on barometer of post-|950s British political, socio- The coal yard surveyed in October 2002 is in occasions, a mechanical excavator. Two original econonic, and industrial chanqe. Vicarage Lane, Hordle, Hampshire (SZ 273948). doors rn sifu indicate the maximum height of Formerly occupied by local coal factors Curlis vehicles originally accommodated, but the Paul H Vigor Brothers, the yard currently provides a solid fuel structure appears to have been adapted to admit retail and delivery centre south of the New Forest taller vehicles. Most of the lowest run of Whilst composing his submission for the 2000 for coal merchant D.K. Parkinson. corrugated iron along its open, eastern side has Rolt Memorial Leclure (lndustrial Archaeology The structures comprising the built been removed - effectively raising the height of Review, XXlll, May 2001, 5-9), the late Kenneth archaeology of Parkinson's coal yard appear the entrance. Jhe northern end of the building has Hudson expressed concerns regarding typical of the enterprise. The yard's buildings and been equipped with two excavator-loaded established industrial archaeology's tendency to bulk storage facilities are essentially functional - hoppers, chutes, and coal scales for bagging coal focus upon prestigious (usually heavy) industries aesthetical considerations clearly did not feature undercover. and/or locations, to the detriment of minor in the original design brief. As if to emphasise its The yard surface comprises both hard commercial enterprises. He cited examples of oft purely functional role, the yard's structures have standing and fractured, decaying concrete. Loose, overlooked, smaller community-centred been erected from correspondingly mundane graded coal is stored in open coal staithes (or productive, service, and retail industries, including materials. Consequently, it appears unlikely that cells/bins), which have been traditionally small hotels, early cinemas, and traditional such impermanent, low status structures will be constructed from redundant wooden railway offices, showrooms, and retail outlets. Pressure is considered worthy of future professional field sleepers, supported and reinforced by steel growing apace to preserve the British countryside archaeological recording, let alone securing any girders. Older staithes, in varying states of repair, by infilling urban plots and clearing brown field statutory protection. are generally located around the southern, sites for residential and industrial redevelopment. The coal yard features two principal western, and northern boundaries of the yard. Consequently, the resulting threat to Hudson's buildings. The first, a utilitarian structure (aligned However, new staithes have been erected in the hitherto unrecognised minor industrial heritage east-west), houses an officq a counter for retail north-eastern corne4 incorporating more modern has become immediate. lt might be suggested sales, facilities for the staff, and a showroom ex-railway materials; Dow-Mac concrete sleepers that it has never been easier to sweep away the displaying fireplaces and fire-related sundries. have been utilised as uprights to reinforce the social, commercial, and community archaeology This concrete block-built structure features a wooden sleeper-bui lt structure. of the more recent industrialised past. sloping conugated iron roof. lts western end The yard has accumulated a considerable One of Hudson's unremarkable, community- incorporates a secure storage area, presumably quantity of both useful equipment and clutter based businesses is the local coal merchant's for the yard's more valuable, portable equipment over the years. ltems observed include: tools of yard. The journey of a lump of house coal from and smaller vehicles - accessed by a concertina- the trade such as shovelt brooms, sack trucks, seam to grate, past and present, incorporates tyle folding steel door. and wheeled coal scales; several redundant fuel some of the most cherished, and intensively The second building is a green-painted, oil tanks and drums; a derelict delivery lorry; a considerable number of wooden pallets; railway sleepers; sheets of conugated iron; sections of tower scaffolding; and a discarded ceramic sink! Traditional coal yards are not as common as they once were, many having been abandoned, cleared, and built upon. Surviving coal yards (and merchants) have had to change with the times. These changes become archaeologically apparent when considering modern logistical issues including: transport, delivery and bulk handling arrangements; yard location (yards no longer reliant upon railway transport); and sourcing reliable supplies of quality coal. With, perhaps, the exception of limited land sales from small, local mines (such as those of the Forest of Dean), today road hauliers carry most domestic coal (house coal, anthracite nuts, smokeless fuel, coal- based solid fuels, etc) from pithead, port, or processor to distant, local coal merchants' yards. Modern coal yards employ mechanised handling to a greater or lesser extent. As stated above, Parkinson's have equipped their yard with an excavator and a forklift. Following the traumatic contraction of the British coal industry in the 1980s, supplies coal are likely be Coal yard office, showroon, stafffacilities, secure storage, etc, viewed from the west Photo: P H Vigor of as to

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 5 combat severe urban air pollution, especially the infamous London Smog. Between December 1952 and March 1953 an estimated 12,000 Londoners died from smog-related medical conditions. The fatal effects of this darkest, and oft overlooked, chapter of British industrial history have been described as having constituted 'the greatest officially recognised urban air pollution disaster in modern history.' (D. Davis, 'The Great Smog', in History Today, vol. 52 (1 2), 2002, 2-3\ The enforcement of Clean Air legislation may be shown to have influenced the archaeology of: local (especially urban) coal yards; the producers of'authorised fuels' (especially smokeless solid); the manufactures, and retailers, of 'clean' heating and cooking equipment; coal-fired power stations; and domestic architecture. Although open f ires have been largely superseded by consumer aspirations to possess modern,'clean' heating and cooking appliances, an almost primeval relationship with domestic fire has survived. This may explain the continuing popularity of coal effect-type electric and gas fires: the ghost of a living fire without the dirt and Corrugated iron garage and coal packing shed, viewed fron the enclosed western side Photo: P H Vigor labour. lt is, therefore, unsurprising that domestic fires have subsequently reasserted themselves - as social focal points. Today the living fire can be imported from overseas collieries as surviving invaluable in assessing the meaning of such encountered within the domestic grate, in one's British pits. However, Parkinson's express a enterprises within the wider social and political AGA/Rayburn, garden barbeques, and within the preference British coal sourcing supplies landscape. legislation, changing for - Political picket line's almost obligatory brazier. This Warwickshire consumer/lifestyle aspirations, and developing from Daw Mill Colliery, apparent social resurgence of domestic fire may (Warwickshire may significantly influence the Thick seam); and Rossington, social conscience be confirmed by the current trend for building Yorkshire (Dunsil/Barnsley seam). status - and past, present, and future archaeology new homes with chimneys and fireplaces, and re- suggested that socio-economic - of a commercial enterprise. It is the commissioning formerly blocked hearths. This political, lifestyle, and ethical Both the coal industry and 'the coal yard' consequences of lifestyle trend may ultimately ensure the variables should be considered when interpreting appear inescapably linked to post-war political economic survival of many small coal yards. primarily functional archaeological sites and legislation and intervention. From the mid-l 950s A potential issue of social conscience structures. Whilst such an approach might not the use of domestic coal fires declined, hastened concerns the ethics of a post-industrial, passed to appear traditionally'archaeological', it may prove by the Clean Air Act of 1956 which was developed economy importing coal from developing nations, coal from pits in industrialising countries being cheaper to produce than coal mined in Britain. This appears to be due to a combination of low wages paid to miners, and the lack of screening or washing the coal before shipment. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding health and safety in such pits, and the suspected employment of children underground. lt remains to be seen whether ethical, or Fair Trade, buying practices will eventually affect the British domestic coal market and, therefore, the local coal yard. Further research might be undertaken to assess the community usage of local coal yards. Within both active and dormant coalfields there may remain a culture of coal burning, whilst off the coal measures other solid fuels such as wood or peat may dominate. Worthwhile archaeological comparisons might be made with regard to coal usage, supply and marketing in areas including East Shropshire, the Forest of Dean and the New Forest. Local coal yards may be interpreted as examples of an intermediate service industry within the wider industrial structure. As such, they complete the circulation of an industrially won mineral fuel (coal) from the place of extraction Wheeled coal scales pictured within traditional wooden sleeperbuilt coal staithe Photo. P H Vigol (the mine) to the consumer (whether a business,

6 INDUSTRIAL ARCHAE)L)GY NEWS 126 or private household). Such enterprises are worthy candidates for industrial archaeological study as they directly link industry to the community. To exclusively restrict archaeological and historical research to original places of manufacture risks misunderstanding the essential relationship that binds the primary, manufacturing, and service sectors of industry. lt would appear that one sector cannot thrive without the other two. This paper has sought to introduce the archaeological research potential in identifying, investigating and recording a minor commercial enterprise. lt has also attempted to consider various aspects relating to the socio- economicioolitical context of a functional site. Howevel it remains to be seen how British lA, as a traditionally conservative discipline, will choose to define'social analysis' and, furthermore, whether social analysis is subsequently encouraged to evolve as a valid constituent of twenty-first century lA field and archive research.

New coal staithes in the eastern corner ofthe yard, depicting Dow-Mac concrete sleepers in use as upright suppofts Photo: P H Vigol

SS Robin and the Kampfners

One of the world's most important historic ships engine, still in situ, was made by Gourlay Brothers Medway. Later she was displayed as part of the has been oveilooked by the conservation & Company, Dundee. Cylinder diameters are 12, historic ships collection in the East Basin of the 5t movement and is in real danger of being broken 18 and 30 inches with a stroke of 2l inches. The Katharine Docks. up for scrap. Two photographers, Nishani and Robin receiued her engine during the period 23 Sailing under the Spanish flag from 1900 David Kampfner, have taken on the enormous October - 1 1 November 1890, again under Lloyd's Robinhad escaped the serious risk of destruction task of rescuing the vessel by adaptive re-use, Survey, and both ship and engines received the of two World Wars and luckily survived the previously a solution applied to buildings. classification '100A1 Lloyds (steel)'. Not only Spanish Civil War of 1936-9. Apparently there is does the Robin still have her original triple- still considerable affection for the old SS Mariain Robert Carr expansion engine but the boiler is original (and Spain and a possibility that she may go back she steamed home in 1974). there. Even though she spent most of her working Ihe SS Robin is a very remarkable old steamship After her building the Robin did not remain life away from British waters she is just the kind built at Orchard House Yard, Balckwall, London in long on the British Register, she was sold to of vessel that carried cargoes round our coasts for 1 889-90. She was one of a pair. Her sister ship the Spanish owners on 1 3 May 1 900 and became the nearly a century. Rooke, built alongside, was wrecked off North SS Maria. Her life there was a rough one, being Unfortunately in recent years the Robin has Wales one Christmas in the 1920s. At the time of used for many years carrying punishing cargoes suffered sad neglect and has been languishing on building Lloyd's of London were wary of ships of coal and steel scrap round the exoosed Atlantic the North Quay of the lmport Dock, West India built of steel, which at least in Britain was coast. Bilbao was a regular port of call. Amazingly Docks, London for some years. 5o bad did her regarded as a treacherous structural material. she continued her work until the 1 970s when she apparent condition become there was talk of the This was partly a legacy from the introduction of was purchased by the Maritime Trust and brought vessel being beyond repair and it was feared she Bessemer Steel which started in 1856. Lloyd's back to the UK in )uly 1974. Restoration work might be cut up for scrap. Fortunately two only agreed to a specification for steel ships in was carried out on a slio at Rochester on the River saviours appeared in the shape of Nishani and November 1889.The Rookeand Robrnwere built by the London shipbuilder R Thomson under Lloyd's survey and it is indicative of their concern that Lloyd's surveyors visited the two ships while building no less than 83 times. The Sobrh is thus one of the first British steam coasters to be built of steel, and very well at that. She is a most remarkable survival (steel ships usually have a short life in salt water). Ihe Robin was launched in September 1890. She is 143 feet long with a beam of 22.9 feet and in her later days was 366 tons gross. Fitting out took place in London at the East India Docks but after that the Robin, and presumably the Rooke, were towed to Dundee where boilers and engines were fitted, aIt. Robin's triple-expansion main SS Robin, the quintessential 'dirty Brttish coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack'

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 7 excellent. Hull plates, rivets, ribs and brackets etc are well displayed, along with evidence of repairs over the years. However we are not out of the wood yet. Much still has to be done and the Kampfners have been putting in an enormous amount of time to the detriment of their own livelihoods. lt could still end with Robinbeing towed away for scrap and this has happened with some other ship preservation attempts. Bear in mind that Robin, for her age, is something very special and probably unique. Unlike some better-known historic ships (e.g. H MS Warrior, PS Waverlef she is almost totally original and complete. Steam winches are still in their places and even the galley has its Victorian cast-iron cooking range. The latter is very hard to find nowadays even in a domestic context. Robin claims to be the oldest complete steamship in the world. Rohin is the quintessential 'dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack' of John Masefield's well-known poem 'Cargoes' published in 1902,'butting through the Channel in the mad March days'. For this poem, with great perception, the steam coaster is chosen as the SS Robin at West lndia Quay Photo. copyright Nishani & David Kampfner cargo carrier of the industrial revolution. We have so few physical remains (at least unsubmerged) are an energetic couple in striking lighter colours in order that the general David Kampfner. They from the great days of the British Mercantile successful business background in public notice the ship. No doubt this will appal with a Marine that in terms of ships Robinis almost all photography direction who have taken on ourists but Robin is not a museum. She is to and art that is left. Unlike some other nations (eg the gigantic task of trying to save lhe Robin become mainly a photographic gallery and must Germany and the United States) we have retained which for too long has been left in a neglected advertise the fact in a modern environment. The no ocean-going cargo ship of any kind. The 1 955 Their plan to give the vessel some economic Kampfners are engaged in adaptive re-use rather state. sludge ship SS Shieldhall currently based in viability is to convert the hold into a landmark than preservation. lt might well be pointed out Southampton is at 268 feet long about the largest interactive photographic gallery. that the traditional museum and conservation preserved cargo ship we have and she is not even The Kampfners produce some very exciting world has Iailed Robin and drastic measures are from the same century as Robin. photographs. Their visual images tell a story or inevitable just to save her from disintegration. See the Robin website: wwwkampfner.com/ illuminate situation in an immediate and What is tragic is that national resources have a robin, or contact David Kampfner, Project compelling fashion and we are grateful to them dried up. lt seems no Lottery money is available Manager; SS Robin Registered Charity No for allowing us to use one of their photographs of and Robin appears to have few friends. The usual 1095884, Hertsmere Road, London El4 4AE, 8 Robin for this article. In a surprisingly short time shipping enthusiast circles have not put in much 020 7538 0652. they have gathered together conservation of an appearance although there was a visit to experts, local community leaders, senior local the ship by the Duke of Edinburgh on 25 March officials, some volunteer workers (more needed) 2003. The Duke was familiar with Robin through and made University and funding contacts. Jim his work as Patron of the Maritime Trust in the Fitzpatrick MP is now Patron of the SS Robin 1 970s when the vessel was repatriated from AIA Registered Charity. Divers from Anglian Marine 5pain. carried out a free underwater examination of A good deal of work has taken place in the Robin's hull in November 2002 and their report hold over the winter. This is to be the location of Annual was rather encouraging. the photographic gallery which will justity Robirls The Kampfners really are doing a tremendous continued existence. Part of the hold was being job, quite reminiscent of LTC Rolt, and need all the used as a workshop and machine tools and Conference support they can get. ln the last year things have obstructions have been removed revealing much been going from strength to strength. Recent usable exhibition space. The interior now has a in good news is a donation of fI0,000 from Credit clean silver finish and with new lighting being Suisse First Boston towards restoration work. Also installed its use for photographic exhibitions now South-East Wales Multiplex who are building the large hotel close seems entirely plausible. Indeed galleries at lo Robin (as well as the new Wembley Stadium) nowadays often prefer an industrial aesthetic, have agreed to help with labour and materials. e.g. Tate Modern and The Wapping Project (the Cardiff Currently Robin is painted in her original last active London hydraulic power pumping livery; black hull with red boot topping, yellow- station). With the right promotion the Robin 5 - 11 September 2003 brown superstructure and black chimney with a Gallery has a good chance of becoming white band. At her present berth she is not easy fashionable in the Art World. A floating industrial to make out in front of a 33-storey hotel and gallery fashioned from the hold of a cargo ship Details from luxury apartment development with a good deal will surely attract a major figure with AIA Liaison Officer of building-site clutter around quay level - in fact imagination? Pains have been taken not to the oresent colour scheme almost acts as a obscure the original cargo-hold interior, say by (address on page 2) camouflage. lt may be necessary to repaint Robin putting up a lining of boards, and the effect is

8 INDIJSTRIAL ARCHAE)LoGY NEWS 126 PHOTO FEATURE

CORFU FACTORY

0n the island of Corfu in Mandouki, near the port area of Corfu Town are the derelict remains of what was presumably a factory very similar to that described by Paul Vigor in // News 124. Most had been gutted when photographed in May 200'l and more may have gone by now as the site was scheduled for development. Howevel the elongated lawn mower-type mixing trough did remain. The AEBEK lettering on the chimney doubtless refers to the name of the operating company, but it has not yet been possible to obtain any information on its history. Photos: Colin Bowden

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAE)L)GY NEW, 126 9 AIA NEWS The birth of the AIA - 30 years on The AIA was formally established 30 years ago, at the Conference held on the lsle of Man in September 1973. This was the last in a series of annual conferences devoted to the discussion of industrial archaeological themes, beginning with six in Bath (1 965-70), then one in Bradford (1971) and one in Glasgow (1972). The subjects discussed had begun by being very general, such as 'The Theory and Practice of Industrial Archaeology', although there was much close scrutiny of definitions. But more specialised subjects such as 'lead Mining' and 'Twentieth Century Industrial Archaeology' gradually became more prominent, and right from the start there was ample soace devoted to contributions from The Lady lsabella Wheel at Laxey, with Tom Rolt and Douglas Hague on the wall in front during the 1973 Isle of Man conference people attending. The possibility of Photo: Angus Buchanan forming a permanent society was attended the early conferences, playground at Silverdale. Douglas Tom Rolt, who was elected as the considered at length, and at the including a group of Manxmen who Hague charmed us with his first President of the new Glasgow meeting Sir Arthur Elton, had demonstrated their enthusiasm eloquence, and John Butt skilfully Association, also died within a few who had been a strong supporter of for the subject by writing a book for reported on the Steering Committee months. The organisation the conferences from the outset, David & Charles on the industrial which had deliberated during the nevertheless got off to a strong moved the resolution calling on archaeology of the island. They had preceding year. An exciting visit was start, and the missionary those present to meet the following already issued a cordial invitation to made to the old lead mine at Laxey, enthusiasm of its leading advocates year and to constitute themselves as hold the 1973 meeting on the lsle of where the Lady lsabella Watenruheel quickly secured it as a respected a national society. The resolution Man, so that the Foundation had been recently refurbished. And a place amongst British conservation was passed and duly carried out in Conference was held at the Belle journey was made on the nanow bodies. lt immediately acquired the lsle of Man. Vue Hotel, Port Erin, on 14-16 gauge railway from Douglas to Port international significance, moreover, It is difficult to recall now the September that year. About 50 men Erin. because the willingness of industrial anxiety and even suspicion shown and women attended. We were More significantly, however, the archaeologists from Sweden and the by some local societies who feared treated to a talk by Ewan Corlett on assembly fulfilled the resolution to United States to attend the that the creation of a national body lron 5hips, only four years after the form a permanent society, equipping preliminary conferences had would inhibit their own freedom SS Great Britain had been restored itself with a constitution and a team resulted in FlcclM - the First and prestige. But a considerable to Bristol. Michael Rix showed us of officers as the Association for lnternational Conference for the camaraderie had developed the curious water-powered Industrial Archaeology'. Sadly, Conservation of Industrial amongst the people who regularly roundabout in a children's Arthur Elton had already died and Monuments - being held at

News from Upper Cwmtwswg Dear Mr Editor

Calamity! Pugh's goat got into the dinner tent and ate all the sandwiches. All those weeks of cutting and spreading and slicing and that [expletive deletedl animal has devoured the lot. We are starting all over again and should be done by next month but it might not be a bad idea to bring a Mars Bar or two in case we are short.

Just to help things along the water heater has finally blown up in the schoolroom. And it looks like final too, but not to worry because Paul Yummie says he's got an old boiler he can bring along.

Dai Sponge got taken away to'dry out' the other day but we are pretty confident he will get out in time to keep our bar going. Not much comes between Dai and his bar, except a certain corpulence.

I am relieved to say we will not have the rugby club to worry about. They are off to Paris, to the Stadt de France, for the weekend, if they don't get lost on the M25. Whether they find their way back to Dover is another matter. We can hope.

5o there we are - we are all still working hard for you.

Yours fraternallv /otci. tAe 64tal

1O INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 a camera lronbridge in June 1973. From its announced that is was proposing to This will involve a programme of somebody out there with (l've conferences) inception, therefore, the AIA was move the goalposts or even do rapid, broad-brush assessments of seen you all at (or suitable colour able to act as a representative body away with them altogether. The individual industries areas) with who can submit a print, image. can on the international scene, and this consultative process and customised strategies for dealing slide or digital lt has helped to ensure the high deliberations seem to be coming to with these. Reports will include a relate to topical news, or it can be a good 'industrial' image in its own respect given to British industrial an end, and when the new system is review of present designations, the monuments amongst designated finally established we will adequacy of preserved sites, the right. The next deadline is 30 September, so just think of the fame World Heritage Sites. endeavour to carry out our original international context and an actlon get The care taken in preparing the undertaking. plan to identify the need for future and snapping! Peter Stanier ground for the formation of a David Alderton, work and guidance. The process will national society over several years Honorary Secretary involve close collaboration with thus proved to be rewarding. The national bodies. lmplementation Industrial jewels in but pilots for new Association was welcomed bY awaits EH approval Catalonia and individuals Partnership in action: maltings and oasts are planned for most local societies Not many wine cellars can boast of pursuing causes of later in the year. A SHIERs for who had been from Grain to Glass having been designed by famous interest, breweries has been recognised as a industrial archaeological Recent changes in the 'drinks' architects but there are important appreciate the high priority for the near future. and who came to trades present an enormous examples in Catalonia that can. The and international Discussion in the PlenarY value of national challenge to those who seek to Guell Cellars in El Ganaf, built in session helped to draw threads representatr0n. research, record and conserve the stone and brick between 1895 and together and to provide a focus for Angus Buchanan buildings, artefacts and records of 1898, were designed bY Antoni AIA future work of the societies. After Honorary President, these industries and their retail Gaudi and his pupil Francesc the theory came the practical, with outlets. Such is the urgencY of the Another prime examPle visits to STEAM or (the most Berenguer. lnsurance for AIA situation that AIA joined with the is the immense Codorniu cellar popular!) Archer's Brewery as Brewery History Society and English complex, which dates back to 1551. lndividual and Affiliated optional extras.Archer's is housed in Heritage on 13 June 2003 at In the 1890s, the Codorniu family members a conversion of the GWR's old Society STEAM, the museum of the Great decided to enlarge their premises. receives locomotive weigh house and Council frequentlY Western Railway in Swindon for a They hired Josep Puig I Cadafalch to for oroduces traditional ales in modern, enquiries about insurance timely review of work done, the do the design and he directed the AIA is not stainless steel plant. My one regret archaeological activities. roles o{ the two societies and of first phase of the work, completed in placed provide cover at at the end of a very successful daY well to English Heritage and to identifY 1906. According lo Cien Elementos was that AIA members did not get comoetitive rates. We recommend oriorities for the future. Patrinonio lndustrial en the sort of notice of the event that del that your first enquiry should be to Time being scarce, beer Cataluna, a treasure house of provide for was appropriate. As AIA chair, I can the CBA who cover orovided our focus with industrial archaeologY, only apologise for this Catalan's many individuals and societies presentations from the societY from which this information has inconvenience and assure members involved with archaeological work. members on maltings (Amber been culled, it represents an that after discussion at our 28 June To have cover through them it is Patrick), brewery buildings (LYnn exceptional examPle of Catalan procedures have necessary the individual or Council Meeting for Pearson) and archives (Mike Brown) modernist architecture. In 1 976, four member of been put in place to avoid a repeat. society to become a with additional expertise on of the buildings in the complex were and Mike Bone CBA. The rates for membership brewing processes and Plant from declared National Historical and cover depend on circumstances and Roger Putman of Brewer Artistic Monuments. Puig I cannot be usefully summarised. International and pubs bY Geoff Stop the Editor! Cadafalch also designed Can Peter Your contact should be Brandwood of CAMRA. Readers may have noticed that for a Casaramona, an old thread factory 0lver. Finance Director, Council for cover illustration is Keith Falconer; Head of lA at third time the in Barcelona, built between 191 1 Bowes Monell British Archaeology, English Heritage, had earlier credited to your Editor. I had rather and 1912. This spectacular building House, 111 Walmgatg York, Y0l 2UA. provided a context for the daY and hoped that by introducing colour is counted one of the jewels of I 01 904 671 41 7, Fax 01 904 671 384, outlined EH's important emerging there would be a rush of offers, but Catalan industrial architecture. Both Email: [email protected] 'strategy for the Historic Industrial there has been little response so far. of the Puig I Cadafalch comPlexes lf any Affiliated SocietY has Environment'- or SHlERs for short. Come on everyone, there must be will be among the extraordinary obtained satisfactorY cover sites to be visited during the AIA elsewhere please would they Put a visit to Catalonia next Spring. For letter or notice in lA News Io tell early details of this visit, apply on others about it. the flver enclosed with this mailing. Richard Hartree, Paul Saulter Honorary Treasurer ADVERTISE IN Endangered Sites Members maY remember that a Year IA NEWS guidance about ago we issued brief lA ),,Jrus reaches a uide rrudership how to react when a site You believe through direct subscriPf ions, to be significant is endangered, and ciculution hr alliliatcd organisations promised further guidance and and tlse in libraries. information on planning legislation. Adrcrtising rates rurtge fronr as littlc You may equally be wondering whY as f.l0 to fl70 lirr a full pagc. that guidance has not yet appeared. Inserts ma1 be mailcd uith lA News at It is not merely the lethargY of the a chargc ol 1)25. the drinks industry. This striking Secretary: work had started on the The successful 'Grain to Glass' conference exanined For furthcr dttails. c(,ntact the Edit0r. notes when the government brewing and nalting landscape, now converted to other uses, is at Weymouth

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 11 NEWS

Museum in Docklands track. The Tramways Act of 1 879 allowed mechanical traction opens The first electric trams using The task of establishing a museum American equipment cost around of London's River and the Port of f500 and were twice as fast as a London in the former dockland area horse tram, giving huge operating has proved a long and arduous one. economies. The big boom in electric The national press including // tramways was from 1900 to 1903. ilerys announced about four years The Nottingham system was Museum in ago that the new electrified in 1 901. The financing o{ Docklands would open in January tramways has a long history of loan 2000 but sufficient funds could not financing with little provision for be raised to achieve this. Further renewals and loan repayments. hard work has been necessary and Loans were frequently for a period, the official opening of the Museum typically over 40 years, which in Docklands finally took place on exceeded the equipment life ol 20 May this year. around 20 years. The history of For the public opening on Nottingham's tramways is in many Saturday 24 May events spilled ways typical of this country. Stock outside the Museum onto West was improved in the 1920s with India Quay. Among the attractions upholstered seats. 1923 was the the steam tug Portweywas open to peak year for the system. The the public and the fireboat Massey introduction of the heavy duty jet 5hawprojected a tremendous of pneumatic tyre in 1927 allowed the young water skywards. An intrepid economics of bus operation to leap diver clad in traditional diving suit forward. In 1933 the interurban with brass helmet and supplied with Notts and Derby route was air by a pair of stalwart handle converted to trolley bus operation turners through airline a trailing with all tram operations in descended depths the into the of Nottingham ending in 1935. The dock. This excellent demonstration )ut at last! A traditional diver at the West lndia Dock, during the public opening of the new Nottingham trams that will provided was by the Historical Museun in Docklands, West India Quay, Saturday 24 May 2003 Photo: R J M Carr start running in 2003 are not driven Diving Society Working Equipment Huntingdon Beaumont had had the United States well through into by hard finance but more as a Grouo. colliery interests in Bedworth in the nineteenth century, even on solution to current urban traffic The new Museum, which is North Wanrvickshire and Coleorton locomotive worked lines in the form problems. close to West India Quay station on on Leicestershire. Through these of highly dangerous strap rails. Colin Lea bought the the Docklands Light Railway, is No. 1 mines he came across Francis lan Yearsley spoke on the conference uo to date with a Warehouse, West India Quay, Willoughby of Wollaton Hall as a development of the street tramway. description of the development of Hertsmere Road, London El4 4AL, colliery investor. Beaumont was a The early appeal of the street tram NET - The Nottingham Express A 0870 444 3855, website: colliery entrepreneur with inventive was driven by hard economics. A Transit system. Line one runs from wvwv. m useu m i ndock I a nds. org. u k. flair but poor business acumen. He oair of horses could haul 26 the Midland Station through the city Robeft Carr took a lease on Wollaton colliery passengers on the road and 46 on a centre to Hucknall and the old near Nottingham, from Willougby rail mounted tram. The American G. Cinder Hill colliery site. lt is due to EMIAC 55 and opened a land sale wharf at F. Train founded early street open in November 2003. lt covers a The 65th East Midlands lndustrial Wollaton Lane End. In 1604 he tramways in Birkenhead, the route along parts of the old Great Archaeology Conference was held moved to Strelley Colliery. In order Potteries and London. The Tramways Central line south of the city centre at New College Nottingham in May to retain his land sale wharf in the Act of 1870 developed a standard with street running and former 2003, hosted by the Railway & same location he laid a wooden for tramway planning and colliery lines and ex Midland Canal Historical Society on the topic rayle way from Wollaton to the legislation, removing the need for Railway lines to the north. The new of '400 years of rayles in mines at Strelley. The line opened in individual urban tramway acts, 200 passenger trams with a top Nottingham'. Three very different 1604 is usually recognised as the although it banned local authorities speed of 50 mph were built in Derby. aspects were presented by the first railway in England. lt had a life from operating tramways. lt was not They will follow the numbering soeakers. of between 12 and 18 years. however until the passing of the sequence on from No.200, the last Norman Shelley traced the very Beaumont moved to the Blyth 1892 act that this ban was lifted. tram in the fleet of 1936. A further early development of proto railways Valley in Northumberland in the The capital requirements were of two lines in the city are under from the first Babylonian evidence early seventeenth century to interest. A tramcar with a life of 20 evaluation. Sissons of 22458C through Greek rutways develop mines at Bedlington and years cost f200 but the 1 6 horses to Mark to examples in Friborg in 1350. Cowpen. Whether he developed operate it for a 16 hour day cost Known examples included those in railway lines in this area which was f360 and had a working life of four South Yorkshire Austria in 1519, Berlin in the late later to become the cradle of railway to five years. To avoid this cost there Industrial History 1500's and an examole in a Flemish development for the world is not were trials using traction provided painting in 1540. Agricola's De Re known. The use of wooden rails by batteries, naphtha, clockwork, Society marks 70 years Metallica of 1556 gives some of the persisted in the Tyneside area and cables and steam. Many of these The South Yorkshire lndustrial first detailed illustrations of early lines like the Tanfleld railway of systems had weight problems History Society is having an railways some using a peg in slot 1723 were laid with timber trams. particularly with tramways, exhibition at Kelham lsland guidance system. At this stage the These were later covered with iron including that in Nottingham, laid Museum, Sheffield, from 12 October plot moved to Nottingham. strips. A practice which persisted in on Winby and Levick's light weight to 27 November. to mark its 70th

12 INDIJSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 NEWS

to encourage technical education, The Millennium Galleries, good practice and innovation. In Sheffield, are having a major due course the Cutlers' CompanY exhibition about Sheffield knives and the Trades Technical Societies and cutting tools, A Cut Above the joined forces to set up a bodY to Rest', from 23 August to 26 October, collect obsolete tools and so mid October is the time to visit machinery and record how they had Sheffield if you would like to see been used. both exhibitions. lt will draw on the The Society was active from the remarkable collection of Ken Hawley 1930s to the 1950s in ensuring the MBE, who has long been a very survival and preservation of the active member of the Society and Tyzack scythe works at AbbeYdale, was Hon. Custodian of WortleY ToP now known as Abbeydale Industrial Forge for many years. The Galleries Hamlet, and a water Powered are in Arundel Gate in the citY cutlery grinding wheel, ShePherd centre, and are open dailY, 10-5 Wheel. These then passed into Cit1l (Sundays, 1 1 -5). Council ownership and are now Enouiries: Kelham lsland lndustrial History Society in 1953 woftley Top Forge was acquired by the south Yorkshire managed, like Kelham lsland Museum. 8 0114 272 2106; Museum, by the Sheffield Industrial Millennium Galleries, I 0114 278 Sheffield Tools anniversary and the 50th Preservation of Old Museums Trust. 2600; The South Yorkshire Industrial it anniversary of its purchase of and Machinery. For manY Years In 1953 the Society acquired History Society - Christine Ball, Hon. Wortley Top Forge. The exhibition was called the Sheffield Trades Wortley Top Forge, between Sec., 75 Banner Cross Road, it may be will reflect the Society's history the Historical Society. We think Sheffield and Barnsley, which is Sheffield Sll 9HQ, @ 0114 236 oldest organisation set uP four historic industrial sites that it the Britain's only surviving water 1411 , or Derek Bayliss, I 01 1 4 230 owns. and its other activities and specifically for industrial powered heavy iron forge. lt dates 7693. interests. The Museum is oPen preservation and industrial history from 1638 and worked until 1908; Derek Bavliss Monday to Thursday, 10-4, and in a local area. lt had its origins in from about 1850 it sPecialised in good Sheffield Trades Technical Sunday, 1 1-4.45 only. lt gives a the making wrought iron railwaY wagon Joseph Stott's introduction to Sheffield's industrial Societies, which were formed in axles. lt is now managed and FacultY architectural drawings history and many of the displaYs are 1918 to bring together the opened to the public (SundaYs from University of new. There is an admission charge. of Engineering of the Easter to Bonfire Night) by a sister archive The Society was founded in Sheffield and people from Sheffield body, the South Yorkshire Trades ln 1981 when the 0ldham - craftsmen - 1933 as the SocietY for the industry masters and Historical Trust. and a small team of architectural practice of Sanger and volunteers. The Society also owns Rothwell closed down theY Rockley Furnace, the remains of a deposited a large collection of charcoal blast furnace of cl 700; drawings with the 0ldham Local Rockley Engine House, a Newcomen Studies Library. The significance of engine house of 1813 for PumPing this collection is that it includes a an iron mine; Hoylandswaine Nail large number of drawings Forge, a row of three nailmakers' originatlng from the Practice of hand forges in a cottage garden; Joseph Stott, one of the leading and Bower Spring Furnace, Oldham architectural practices who Sheffield, the remains of a furnace soecialised in cotton mills. for steelmaking bY the earlY Unfortunately the collection cementation process. The RockleY remained largely inaccessible site is open to the public, while the because it was uncatalogued and others can be seen from the street. stored in boxes with the drawings The Society now has around 200 tightly folded or rolled up, hence members. lt has a Programme of they were difficult to access and lectures in Sheffield, Barnsley and easily damaged. lt was not until Rotherham each winter, and a over ten years later that oldham summer programme of walks and appointed an archivist, when theY visits. lts Field Recording Group, and were able to set about the task of many individual members, are active cataloguing and conserving a in industrial history research and number of their collections, of which Restorers of steam and industrial artefacts fieldwork. The Society works closely the Joseph Stott collection was one for museums and private clients including with the South Yorkshire local of the larger tasks. authorities, the South Yorkshire The conservation of the Joseph the Museum in Docklands, Archaeology Service, the Council for Stott collection took several years London's TFansPort Museum British ArchaeologY, and English and it was made available to the Heritage, on Planning, public early in 2002, The Plans have and Stretham Old Engine. archaeological, and conservation been flattened and are now stored matters affecting historic industrial in transparent sleeves. These can be Call Steve Bullman at Historic Steam Ltd, sites. lt produces Publications viewed but initial access to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, including a Journal with articles collection is by micro-fiche copies. Green Dragon Lane, Middlesex, TW8 OEN. about South Yorkshire's industrial There is a comprehensive 655-Page tel: 020 8568 4751 www.historicsteam.ltd.uk history. catalogue. Altogether there are

INDIJSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 13 NEWS

3,060 drawings in this collection, the practice started by his brother, was undertaken prior to particularly in the use of these the vast majority of which are but there is nothing from the development at Britannia Car Park, materials as components of the buildings for the Lancashire cotton practice of his nephew Sidney Stott. York (SE 461 452), in association warehouse superstructures. A industry principally cotton spinning One might also wonder in this with Mike Griffiths and Associates, watching brief is currently mills. day and age about the practice of on behalf of Bellway Homes. underway, monitoring the Joseph Stott initially worked for micro-fiching, should they not have Fieldwork, including evaluation demolition of individual buildings his brotherAbraham Henthorn Stott been digitised? Some drawings trenches and the monitoring of a and below-ground works on the but in the late 1850s he set up his have not micro-fiched very well and geotechnical investigation by AIG site. own practice which after his death the originals will need to be viewed Ltd, was canied out on the site of A buildings assessment was in 1894 was continued by his son to study the fine detail, while many the York Town Gasworks. These also made of the Electric Press site George under the title Joseph Stott blue-prints are totally illegible. gasworks were the first to be in Leeds (5E 298339), on behalf of & Son. The early years of the practice Howevei it is planned to digitise constructed in York, known to have Panter Hudspith Architects. the work are not so well represented but some drawings to make them been in existence since 1823 and demonstrated that this site has a large numbers of drawings have available over the Internet on the subject to considerable alteration longer history than previously survived for the mills built during 'spinning-the-web' web site lvhich during the nineteenth and twentieth believed. The Electric Press building the Edwardian oeriod. There are no is being developed by a number of centuries before going out of use in itself was originally constructed in less than 310 drawings relating to local authorities in Lancashire. the 1970s. Though limited by the late |860s, principally as a the Soudan No.1 & 2 Mills at The collection can be viewed at contamination, the investigations warehouse, but was then altered in Middleton for example, and there is the Oldham Local Studies &Archives. revealed the surviving remains of the late 1 890s to house a printing also a Contract Book covering this 84 Union Street, Oldham, 011 1DN, the nineteenth-century gasworks works. lt retains features from both period which provides valuable phone: 0161-911 4654, e-mail: beneath destruction debris periods of use, and appears to have information on costs. Apart from [email protected], deposited over much of the site, and received little further alteration overall plans and elevations, plus a web-site wvvw.oldham.gov.uk. proved the accuracy of a surviving since the mid-twentieth century. Ihe few perspective drawings, there are Roger N. Holden 1945 plan. Below-ground remains Stansfeld Chambers, immediately to many detail drawings showing included brick culverts, tanks and the west of the Electric Press, items like water towers, chimneys, Recent industrial underground services, and various formed the core of a mid-nineteenth reservoirs, structural iron and steel structures were encountered, century carriage works, and despite archaeological work, terra-cotta work and wooden including gas holding tanks, a conversion to offices in the 1 920s, :l. vnrkshire panelling in boardrooms. Drawings fieldwork benzene plant, coal gas purifiers the southern range of the chambers supplied by contractors show steam Four evaluations of industrial and a chimney. retains features of its original engines, boilers, economisers, archaeological interest have been Our Historic Buildings Section construction. lighting systemg sprinkler systems undertaken in Yorkshire. An carried out a measured survey and Field Archaeology Specialists Ltd, and spinning machinery. archaeological evaluation and buildings assessment of seven York One might quibble about the watching brief were undertaken at structures on the Stanningley title given to this collection which is Mill House Farm, Ackworth, West Engineering Works sitg Town Street, Neath Abbey seeks 'Stott (SE prior (SE Architectural Practices', this Yorkshire 442 166) to a Stanningley, West Yorkshire friends should more accurately be 'Joseph residential develooment on the site. 221346), on behalf of Bellway Works Stott and successors'. Some olans Work was carried out in association Homes. The work has demonstrated The Neath Abbey lron Company was up in 1792 by from Ernest English and Sanger & with Mike Griffiths and Associates, a long industrial presence on the set Plymouth. The Rothwell are included where they on behalf of Shepherd Homes Ltd. site, with standing evidence for Quakers from company was innovative in all areas relate to works by Joseph Stott. Two Investigations were undertaken on buildings dating to the early 1 850s. of engineering and it was one of the plans originate from Stott & Sons, the site of a corn mill, known to This site is of particular importance players instrumental in the forging have been in existence from at least as it may be the last surviving Industrial Revolution 1774, and converted from water to bridge-building works from the mid- of the but it recognition steam power by 1850. to late nineteenth century in the has received no nationally or internationally. The site Archaeological excavations and a country. The standing remains chart standing buildings survey the shift in industrial bridge-building of the Neath Abbey lron Company Works is still in existence and we are encountered extensive and materialt from cast to wrought iron, substantial nineteenth-century remains, which allowed for a greater understanding of the layout of the mill complex. The south-eastern area of the complex proved to be its industrial heart, and the likely locations of the boiler house, engine house and chimney were identified, including the excavation of a possible ash pit. The north-western part housed the remnants of water power and milling buildings, and an archway straddling the putative headrace was revealed. The disuse, dismantling and partial demolition Water tower of Manor Mill, Oldhan. A well-oreserved cotton spinning nill built in 1906, drawings of the mill left of which can be found in the Joseoh Stott remains beneath subsequent Archive landscaping. The Neath Abbey blast furnaces photographed in the early I 970s. The workshops to the left Photo: Roger N Holden archaeological An evaluation were later severely damaged in a fire Photo: Laurence lnce

14 INDUSTRIAL ARiHAEoL9GY NEW' 126 NEWS

in the process of establishing it as conference the BAPC is holding at an Industrial Heritage site. The site Gatwick on Saturday 11 October on of the Neath Abbey lron Works is of the subject of the Re-use of Historic DOROTHEA enormous importance in terms of Aviation Buildings. This is part of the the achievements of the Industrial 1 00 Years of Aviation celebrations. RESTORATIONS Revolution but it will be lost to our Places will for the most part be future if it cannot be restored. limited to BAPC societies and Most o{ the original engineering museum groups but some Places tTI} drawings are held in a private should be available for AIA collection of gargantuan proportion members. For details of the Incorporating Ernest Hole (Engineers) of Sussex (7,500 items). These are not simPle conference, send SAE to BAPC, 44 Le SEl2 9SU. sketches on the backs of envelopes, MayAvenue, London CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS IN THE but are highly detailed working John Kina CON SERVAT IO N OF HISTORIC METALWORK, precision engineering drawings. M AC H I N ERY AI] D W IN D IWAT E R M I LLS Neath Abbey products span the ViewFinder on the way entire range of the Industrial we worked atmospheric Revolution, including locomotives of Recent contracts include designs for an More than 20,000 numerous configurations, stationary PreviouslY railway, and a replica steam locomotive, restoration of unseen images revealing over 300 steam engines with cylinders uP to 18C lead sculptures, repair and gilding of the Albert years of working life in England are 125 inches diameter, ships of all Memorial bronze decoration, conservation work on now accessible through the types from iron hulled sailing ships Lion, Sans Pareil and Locomotion, and even National Monuments Archive's Turbinia, to schooners, bucket wheel dredgers ViewFinder (www.english-heritage. the restoration of an hydraulic catafalque! and day steam /sailing yachts, blast org.uk/viewfinder), a new online furnaces, gas plants, machine tools, digital picture library. The website cranes and the list goes on. Products Over 100 man years experience has been made possible through a were exported to most, if not all the grant of fl70,000 from the New continents of the world. Opportunities Fund and the co- The Neath Abbey lron Works Northern Works: New Road, Whaley Bridge, via Stockport, operation of 0xfordshire CountY Project is seeking to form a Friends Cheshire tK23 7iG. Contact: Dave Hodgson Council. The long term aim is to of the Neath Abbey lron Works. We Tel: (01663) 733544 Fax: (01663) 734521 digitise most of the l0million need all types of skills, from archive items, normally onlY secretary to treasurer and every one Southern Works: Riverside Business Park, St Annes Road, St. accessible by visiting the NMR in else in between. In the first instance, Annes Park. Bristol. BS4 4ED. Contact: GeofT Wallis Swindon and London. 'England at please would prospective members Tel: (01 l'7) 9'7 15337 Fax: (01 ti) 971 1617 Work' contains images ranging from make contact with me, Rob Preston, the Saltaire World Heritage Site, the 52 Bertha Place, Margam, Port Northampton boot and shoe Talbot, West Glamorgan, SA13 2AP industry and national railwaY appropriate. After the exhibition side trawler of 1961 was the last I 01639 890505. E-mail: rob- in network to the building of concrete closes it will be kept at the Walsall fishing vessel to be built lisa@rpreston5l .fsnet.co.uk permanent fitted with a Lowestoft- ships in WWl . The 'HenrY W. Taunt Local History Centre as a Lowestoft, Rob Preston Collection'gives a glimPse into public archive. We hope that made engine. The Lydia Eva is in the Oxfordshire's rurul traditions Midlands members will take this care of the Lydia Eva and Mincarlo Beehive and aviation the Charitable Trust Ltd. between 1 860 and 1 922. final opportunity to see buildings ViewFinder will provide an exhibitlon. Clifford Morris can be Robert Carr details, The British Aviation Preservation unrivalled visual archlve of contacted for further I email: Council were oleased that their England's working heritage. Never 01922 459669 or Hereford Gala Day nomination of the Beehive at before has such an important visual cliff morrisf [email protected]. The Waterworks Museum (Hereford) Gatwick and its former owner, BAA resource been made accessible to held a Gala Day on 29 June, when Lynton, resulted in the top AIA all. Lydia Eva in serious various new exhibits were unveiled award at Liverpool last Year (lA trouble? together with the plans for the News 124). The Beehive, the 1936 hands Museum's new development Final show of It is reported that the Preserved passenger terminal at Gatwick until project. All the steam engines were 'The Hand of Time' exhibition of Lydia Eva, a classic steam herring excellent working and there was also a the mid-1950s, is an photographs by AIA member drifter built in 1930 by the King's the bringing back into vintage vehicle parade. example of Clifford Monis FRPS, together with Lynn Slipway Company and usuallY everyday use of a building of quality associated poetry by Semba Jallow- based in Lowestoft has of late fallen imoortance. and historical Rutherford was first shown in Bath into extreme disrepair. She is in such Volk's Electric Railway The Beehive is not the onlY in 2001 (see lA News ||n and has a bad state the vessel can no longer anniversary aviation building in England to have had a successful tour subsequently be exhibited to the public, The ship's Volk's Electric Railway celebrates its been restored and successfully re- attracting almost 40,000 visitors. hull will require a huge expenditure 120th anniversary on 4 August used. Another good examPle is the showing takes at The final Place if she is to be retained. LYdia Eva, 2003. with a commemorative run pre-war passenger terminal at Dudley Museum & Art Gallery from which canies fishing number YH89 the day before launched bY the Liverpool Airport. After languishing October 6 September until 19 (YH for Yarmouth), used to be on Mayor of Brighton & Hove CitY. The for some years, it was recentlY (Monday- 5aturday 10am -4Pm). display at South Quay, Great railway, recognised by the Guinness renovated to become a hotel. There Five abandoned Midlands industrial Yarmouth, from time to time. Book of Records as the oldest public are other examples in the British and Dudley is the sites are depicted However this year the Preserved electric railway in the world, is lsles and elsewhere and lA News scheduled for the only showing diesel trawler Ll412 Mincarlo(LI for superbly situated on the beach at interested in a readers may be West Midlands which is most Lowestoft) was there instead. This

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS 126 15 NEWS

Brighton, east of the Palace Pier. thinking' about the future of the Art and the Industrial and that he certainly never would Members of the Volk's Electric group of canalside mill buildings now he knew very much what it Revolution Ruskin Railway Association help with its here. - would be like. 0n the glass covering oreservation. 'defaces' a Turner view the watercolour Ruskin painted in Wrong brew in Essex of Leicester an iron bridge and coloured the river to indicate pollution from an indigo The British There was a small error in Tony In the late eighteenth century artists factory on one side and a soap Crosby's article on surveying Essex took an interest in the development Archaeological Awards works on the other. Where the two breweries in lA News 125. The of industry and there are important The 2004 Awards will be launched colours met he worked them location of Ridley's brewery should works from this time inspired by by Lord Redesdale at a ceremony on together with almost malicious read 'Hartford End' and not industrial and related subjects. Even 20 November 2003 to be held at the deliberation. The meadow which 'Hartford Heath'. a oainter as late as J. M. W. Turner British Museum, London. Tickets will Turner had depicted in front of an (1 775-1 851 ) chose numerous be f5 per head. The presentation of abbey with the sun setting behind Industrial history? No scenes with an industrial the Awards themselves will take buildings and a connotation but by the time the had red brick place at Queen's University, Belfast, thanks! added and finish off Victorian age was fully underway chimney to on 4 October 2004. The deadline for Turner's sky was suitably darkened A recent survey by the Local attitudes had changed. Industry was the submission of entries is 30 May all over to illustrate the present-day Heritage Initiative, administered by being vilified and the art critic John 2004. smoky atmosphere. the Countryside Agency and Ruskin (1819-1900) was a leading Robert Carr threw down his supported by the Nationwide light of this derogatory movement. When Ruskin brush he was greeted by thunderous Building Society, suggests that An instance of this is a remarkable Piano reprieve industrial heritage least applause. In case the reader is is the lecture he gave before an The Piano popular projects worried the Turner seems have building in Kidderminster category of 500 appreciative audience, probably in to grant Art beside the Staffordshire & that have received support. lt 0xford. survived and went to the Institute in Chicago. An account of Worcestershire Canal in falls far behind archaeology, built He referred to a watercolour Kidderminster has spot-listed and Ruskin's great tantrum (or Victorian been heritage and customs Turner had made some years before permission to traditions. your scheme missing showmanship) can be found in lhe Grade ll, despite ls of the riverside in Leicester. Ruskin demolish recently granted LHI Letters E. Housnaa H. being to out? For information on exclaimed that although he had not of A. ed developers of a cinema. SAVE hopes schemes, www.lhi.org.uk, Maas,1971, page 13. log onto been to Leicester (at least recently) this will lead to 'some sensible or I 0870 9000 401. Robert Carr

REGIONAL NEWS

Home counties for office accommodation and many from the Home Counties the age-old conflict between milling Back in the 1960s and'70s upmarket housing; walked part of region. One contribution to this and navigation. and year's 'The The Vale White Horse lA introductory courses on lA were the Oxford canal towpath theme of Thames - of independent waterway the World' was from Group were one such group to be quite common tutored by such studied one of its of (cement near manner described pioneers as Kenneth Major, Edwin industries making Stephen Capel-Davies, of the formed on the Archaeology (a LEA 1974-75]. Course and Robin Atthill. They were Shipton on Cherwell); and studied Berkshire Industrial above course in usually organised by LEA adult processes related to 0xfordshire's Group and the Wallingford Historical They are still actively engaged on a Steve project at Charney Bassett education centres, or by the Workers former breweries. Unfortunately & Archaeological Society. their mill (Oxfordshire). The group now works Educational Association. which this visit to Hook Norton's surviving dealt with weirs. flash locks and brewery will have to be something flood control on the upper reaches very closely with the local parish year celebrates 1 00 years of servrce, for the future! of London's river. His excellent slides council. Members are also engaged in the provision of liberal courses for adults. The South Eastern Region lA reminded the audience how sorting and cataloguing documents Many such courses led to the Conference, hosted this year by temperamental the Thames can be, and archives rescued when Greene formation of local lA groups/ GLIAS at Greenwich, is supported by and gave interesting glimpses into King took over, and closed the at societies and at least two societies former Morland brewery Abingdon, now largely redeveloped came into being in the Home Counties region in this manner. At for residential and office 'green' the beginning of the twenty-first accommodation. One aspect century such courses, although not of the closure of Morlands. but presently in existence (for how unknown are fairly uncommon, so tr still poles was pleasing to note that one such much longer?) are the hop former hop garden course was advertised by the WEA in and wires in its Charlbury, 0xfordshire, subtitles at Southmoor. about 1Okm west of 'Blankets, Barges and Brewing.' Abingdon. After a brief descriotion of the Another Oxfordshire brewery, origins of lA and the way the study that of Morrell's Lion Brewery in the has changed and developed over centre of Oxford, has also recently the past 40 years or so, the students, been more a building site than a all of whom oualified for the breweery, as it too is being University of the 3rd Age, examined transformed into f lats. lts very gateway is the Witney Blanket Industry and striking lion surmounted being preserved. This brewery was noted how Early's once world Two women working at power loons in the Early Blanket Mill, Witney, Oxfordshire. Fron not so many years ago featured in famous mills are being redeveloped the Henry W faunt collection (see 'Vievvfinder on the way we worked' on page | 5) Photo: Reproduced by permission of English Heritage, NMR an episode in the 'lnspector Morse'

16 INDIJSTRIAL ARCHAEjL)GY NEW, 126