NEWSLETTER NO. 70 LATE SPRING 2007
EDITORIAL
Welcome to another Newsletter and apologies for the slight delay to the production. I like to wait until we have held the AGM so that a brief report can be included for members unable to attend and this year, due to the Lecture Room bookings, we had to hold the AGM a couple of weeks later than before. At the AGM on 21 April, the previous Officers were re-elected en bloc so we carry on for another year – contact details are given at the end of the Newsletter. There were no surprises and a useful discussion was held concerning the management of the main society; members may recall that at last year’s AGM, the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the governance arrangements for nominating members for the Council and Management Board. Nothing has changed, but it was pointed out that with only four paid staff and the need to rely on volunteers who are getting increasingly older it was difficult to run the Society as effectively as it once had been. The income from subscriptions was decreasing and it was vital to find someone to act as publicity officer. The meeting proposed that more work should be invested in developing the Society’s website as a key source of information about the Society, including the Section’s activities.
On a more positive note, thanks were extended to Jane Ellis for arranging a successful lecture programme. Average attendances have remained constant at around 20 per lecture in spite of a fall in the overall Section membership and Jane has a full programme for 2007-2008 starting on 6 October. Details are given later in the Newsletter. The AGM agreed to the continuing arrangement of contributing to David Cant’s expenses as co-convenor of the North East Industrial Archaeology Panel and David’s report on the work of the Panel is included in this Newsletter. The meeting agreed to offer to contribute to the cost of providing new projection facilities for Claremont since the existing slide projector is well past its use by date and increasingly speakers are wishing to use computer projection. Indicative costs have been obtained and passed to the Society’s secretary who agrees that this would be a worthwhile investment, watch this space for October. As usual the full minutes of the AGM will be circulated with the Autumn Newsletter
As mentioned above, Section membership has declined from 91 to 84 individual members, almost entirely due to a drop in members of the main Society; IHS- only membership has only dropped from 25 to 24. I was sad to receive the resignation of long standing member Peter Kelley, who for personal reasons is now unable to attend meetings. I reported this to the AGM and the meeting also expressed regret and thanks to Peter for his support not only to the Section but also for his work in researching and making accessible the industrial history of Leeds. I have written to Peter conveying these thanks and will continue to send Peter copies of the Newsletter to enable him to keep touch with the Section.
After the AGM and lunch, 10 members met in City Square to explore the changing nature of the Leeds riverside, Granary Wharf and the Canal Basin. I think the event was a success and something to be repeated after next year’s AGM – there is still plenty of industrial history to explore in Leeds! We were fortunate with the weather and thanks to Robert Vickers for researching and leading the walk. A full report will appear in the next Newsletter along with reports of the successful study weekend on the Upper Luddenden Valley, the coach trip to Wensleydale and the trip to Goole.
Only one new member to welcome since the last Newsletter: Miss L Raistrick, who I was pleased to welcome on the Leeds walk. Don’t forget that membership leaflets are still available for you to distribute to contacts including local libraries and tourist information centres.
The deadline for contributions for the Autumn Newsletter will be early September so that it can be distributed in good time for the start of the Lecture Programme on 6 October. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you have an enjoyable summer.
Margaret Tylee
NEWS FROM CLAREMONT
In 2002-2003 the Section donated £250 to the YAHS Development Fund set up to improve the facilities at Claremont. The project was an ambitious one and included new library and lecture room facilities. Around £5,000 was raised from donations but it did not prove feasible to carry out the original plan. Only the first phase has been achieved – the modernisation of the kitchen – and this has exhausted the sum raised so far. The improvements to the kitchen have enabled easier and safer provision of food for day to day use and for the refreshments at Day Schools. Thanks have been extended from the YAHS President to all those individuals and Sections who made donations.
The Section has received information from the YAHS Management Board regarding the requirements of the Charity Commissioners for organisations to be accountable to donors, beneficiaries and the public. Specifically we have been asked what plans we have to show our accountability and what plans we have for the expenditure of current funds, (these currently amount to around £4,000). Additionally there was a request to underwrite the cost of employing an additional Assistant Librarian at £13,000 a year. The suggestion was made that if funding was not made available in this way, then other means such as asking Sections to pay for the use of rooms at Claremont, would have to be considered. This was discussed at the AGM and the view was that it was preferable to meet the accountability requirement by using our funds to maintain the Lecture Programme, where increasingly we have to pay speakers’ fees, and the production of a regular Newsletter. We also need to keep funds available for the production of walk leaflets when text is available. Whilst recognising the importance of providing a Library and Archive service, supporting an additional member of staff would quickly exhaust our funds, leaving nothing for the above activities. As instructed by the AGM I have replied to the Management Board along these lines.
HELP WANTED
The Gayle Mill Trust is looking for donations to match the funding they have received from the Heritage Lottery with the aim of opening the Mill. The restoration of Gayle Mill and the plans for its use once the restoration is completed was described by John Cumberland in the Section’s January 2007 lecture (and reported below). At the lecture, the meeting agreed to give a donation to the Gayle Mill Trust and this was endorsed at the AGM. Donations from individual members will also be appreciated. If you wish to donate an amount, however small, please send a cheque made payable to “Gayle Mill Trust” to Dr Michael Thomson, Stone House, Thornton Rust, Leyburn, N Yorkshire, DL8 3AW.
Members may also be interested in becoming a Friend of Gayle Mill. This group has been formed with the object of promoting the appreciation, support and improvement of Gayle Mill. The annual subscription is £10 for adults and £5 for juniors (under 18) with a family subscription of £20. Details are available from Roger Emmins, Ella Farmhouse, Appersett, Hawes, N Yorkshire, DL8 3LN.
English Heritage is starting a new research project to explore the impact of the motor car on people and places from the 1890s to the present day. The project will examine how the world has been adapted for cars, how planners and architects dealt with new challenges and how a range of new buildings evolved to meet the needs of cars and their drivers. These buildings include garages, filling stations, car showrooms, car parks, motels and roadside cafes. Research and fieldwork is now taking place and the findings will eventually be published. If any members feel they can help, perhaps by sharing any research you have done or alerting the team to good examples of buildings to be considered, please contact Kathryn Morrison or John Minnis, Research Department, English Heritage, Brooklands, 24 Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 8BU. Tel: 01223 582700; Fax 01223 582701 or email john.minnis@english- heritage.org.uk or [email protected].
NEWS ITEMS
The 4th International Early Railways Conference is to be held 12-15 June 2008 at University College London, an appropriate venue since it is believed to be the site of Trevithick’s public demonstration of his Catch-Me-Who-Can locomotive in 1808. As well as the conference there will be an accompanying special exhibition which will be open to the public. Early railways are defined as being railways which were pre main line in concept if not in date and researchers in this field who would like to present their findings at the conference are invited to indicate a request to the Conference Editorial Panel. Prospective presenters are asked to submit a 300 word synopsis of their paper by the end of October 2007; proposals for short (15 minute) presentations are also welcome. Proposals can be on economic, business and social history as well as technical aspects and should be sent to Graham Boyes, 7 Onslow Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6QH or email [email protected]. A small reprint of Early Railways 3, the published papers of the 3rd International Early Railway Conference is available for £23 inclusive of postage from Six Martlets Publishing, PO Box 7489, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9WP
The Huddersfield Canal Society has a new website containing information about the society, using the canal as a boater, walker or angler and various events. It can be found at www.huddersfieldcanal.com. The restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal through Stalybridge has been chosen as one of the locations to be visited by delegates to the World Canals Conference being held 13 – 15 June at the Crown Plaza in Liverpool. This annual conference brings together waterways enthusiasts, professionals and academics from across the world to consider the creation of sustainable waterside communities.
Each year the Civic Trust and English Heritage hold a Heritage Open Days weekend to enable access to a wide range of properties most not normally open to the public. In 2007 the event is being held on 8-9 September. The detailed list of properties that will be open is usually made available in July and can be found on the website www.heritageopendays.org.
The Midgley History Group are publishing a new local history book based on recent original research which will be of interest to anyone wishing to know more about the Upper Calder Valley. There are chapters on Quarrying, Iron Foundries, Luddenden Valley Railway and Oats Royd Mill as well as Chartism, Child Labour and Folklore. Called “Pennine Perspectives: Aspects of the History of Midgley” it will be published as a limited edition hardback of 320 pages priced £18 on 30 June. There was an opportunity to be a subscriber at a cheaper price (and have your name appearing in the book) but unfortunately the deadline for that has passed, the good news is that by the deadline there had been 230 subscribers so the publication has already broken even.
The latest newsletter from the West Yorkshire Archaeology Service reports on some recent industrial archaeological recording work carried out by the Service. The recording work included 63-65 East Parade, Bradford a stuff or worsted cloth warehouse and showroom in the Little Germany district dating from the early 20th century that was of particular interest because of its internal layout. The Soil Hill Fireclay Works, also known as Soil Hill Pottery, in Ovenden operated from 1900 to 1981 manufacturing domestic earthenware and later crucibles for the glass industry was recorded prior to being converted into housing and the well preserved downdraught kiln and slurry dryer documented. Also recently recorded by the West Yorkshire Archaeological Services was the freestanding timber building on Platform 4 of Huddersfield railway station. The station completed in 1850 is listed Grade I and the timber building is thought to have been prefabricated for the London & North Western Railway at their Crewe works in 1886 to serve as refreshment and waiting rooms - see the photograph on page 14. The recording revealed surviving components of the 19th century buffet including a marble counter. Shades of “Brief Encounter” perhaps!
Dewsbury Matters is a local history group set up in 1998 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Wellington Road railway station in Dewsbury. The group organises guided walks and talks and have produced a free well produced leaflet describing a heritage trail around the centre of Dewsbury. Several interesting industrial buildings are described in the trail including Cloth Hall Mills, a shoddy and mungo mill and Mark Oldroyd and Sons’ Spinkwell Mill. More information about the history of this area can be found at www.batleyanddewsbury.co.uk.
FUTURE EVENTS
10-12 June The International Importance & Context of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. A conference to launch the nomination of the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts as a World Heritage Site. Organised by Wrexham Borough Council and the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historic Monuments in Wales. Ramada Plaza hotel, Wrexham. Details available from [email protected]
12 June Penistone Wool Walk. A guided 3 mile walk to discover the Penistone wool trade. Part of the Barnsley walking Festival. Meet 10.30am at the St John’s bus station, Penistone
13-15 June World Canals Conference 2007. Hosted by the Inland Waterways Association at Liverpool. This year focussing on the value of involving volunteers and the community sector alongside the professionals. Further details at www.wcc2007.co.uk
23 June Birstwith to Pateley Bridge. Railway Ramblers 9.75 miles linear walk led by Phillip Earnshaw, bring packed lunch. Meet at Birstwith Post Office at 10am returning by bus. No. 24 bus to the start leaves Harrogate and Pateley Bridge at 9.30am
7 Jul Chesterfield Canal Reservoirs and Norwood Locks. A guided walk as part of the Rotherham Walking Festival led by Graham Hague. Meet at Woodhall Lane Car Park, Harthill (near Methodist Church) at 10.30am. Details from Graham Hague ? 01142 686729
10-16 Aug AIA Preston Conference. Held at the University of Central Lancashire. Details below
2 Sept Model Engineers Open Day, Wortley Top Forge. 11am -5pm. Entrance fee: £3 Adult; £2 OAP; 50p children. The Forge is situated on the River Don between Deepcar and Thurgoland (not in the village of Wortley) Grid Ref SK 294998. For more details contact Gordon Parkinson Tel: 01142 817991 or Ted Young Tel: 01226 753896
8-9 Sept Heritage Open Days weekend. Several industrial sites will be open including Wortley Top Forge (details above but free admission on 8 September) and Hoylandswaine Nail Forge. For details contact Derek Bayliss ? 01142 307693
Industrial History Section Lectures 2007-2008
The programme is almost confirmed and final details will be circulated with the Autumn Newsletter in September but please note the following information in your diaries. All are held at Claremont on Saturday mornings starting at 11am.
2007 6 October: Ian Bailey - Child Labour in the Upper Calderdale Valley 24 November: Frank Dean – The Wetherby to Church Fenton Railway 8 December: Don Townsley – The Leeds Locomotive Industry
2008 12 January: Jim Brophy – Ironworking in Nidderdale 9 February: George Sheeran – Railway Architecture (exact title to be confirmed) 8 March: Brian Slater – Stanley Tyson’s slides on Civil Engineering 12 April: AGM hopefully followed by a Leeds walk in the afternoon
Heritage Walks in Calderdale
Details of the 2007 Summer Walking programme are now available. The walks are circular, fairly easy walking and about 2 hours in length. The walks are not normally suitable for under-13s and cost £3 each regardless of age. No booking needed just turn up at the meeting point. The walks have a variety of themes; I have picked out the following with have a greater focus on industrial history.
27 May The Wainhouse Trail. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.25pm at the foot of Wainhouse Tower (off Skircoat Moor Road, Halifax) – does not include access to the Tower. 30 May Fustianopolis. Meet Liz Watkins at 7.15pm by Hebden Bridge Visitor & Canal Centre, New Road, Hebden Bridge. 3 June 500 Years of Textiles. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2.17pm by Lumbutts Chapel on the road between Lumbutts and Mankinholes 10 June Heptonstall. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.15pm by the village store in Heptonstall 17 June Village of Vision. Meet Liz Watkins at 2.15pm by the church in Copley Village 24 June Todmorden. Meet Ed Westbrook at 2.25pm by the main entrance to the Town Hall on Halifax Road. 4 July A Little Village of Stones. Meet Anne Kirker at 7,15pm by Ripponden Church gates 8 July Upper Rastrick. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2.15pm by St Matthew’s Parish Church, Rastrick. 27 July Cragg Vale. Meet Pam Jordan at 7.15pm on B6138 up Cragg Vale by the junction with the road to the church. 29 July A Look at Luddenden. Meet Liz Watkins at 2.15pm by the Church gates opposite the Lord Nelson 26 Aug The Wainhouse Trail. Details as above 9 Sept Coiners, Chickens, Blankets & a Poet. Meet Pam Jordan at 2.15pm by the bus stop opposite the Dusty Miller, Mytholmroyd.
Details of the full programme can be obtained by contacting Calderdale Heritage Walks Tel: 01422 201640 or email [email protected]
Association for Industrial Archaeology Annual Conference Preston 10-16 August 2007
The location for the 2007 conference is closer to home this year at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. The university buildings are situated a short distance from Preston railway station so there is easy access if travelling by train. The conference and associated programme follows the established format of lectures and excursions, together with a pre-conference seminar on 10 August looking at Urban Regeneration and the adaptive re-use of industrial buildings: problems and potential.
The conference visits on the Saturday afternoon give a choice of the Helmshore Textile Museum, Blackpool Heritage or Lune valley Tour of Industrial Sites. The supplementary programme visits include various aspects of Preston’s industry; Lancaster and Glasson Dock; cotton weaving sites in the Pendle area; the glass industry in St Helens; the Rossendale valley and East Lancs. Railway and the Weavers’ Triangle in Burnley. The cost for the complete residential package is £500, but you can pay for attendance on a mix and match daily basis. Full details and booking forms are available from myself, from the AIA Conference secretary John McGuinness Tel: 01895 255657 or from the AIA website www.industrial-archaeology.org.uk.
2006 REPORT FROM NORTH EAST IA PANEL The North East Industrial Archaeology Panel met twice in 2006. In May we visited the Holy Jesus Hospital in Newcastle-on-Tyne, which is run by the National Trust. Although the industrial connections are not obvious at first, the building stands in the heart of Newcastle and part was used as a soup kitchen in the C19. The autumn meeting was at the Streetwise Museum in Hull and following the meeting we were able to have a guided tour of the Arctic Corsair, a deep sea trawler moored in the River Hull. Contemplating work in the icy cold in the bowels of the vessel made me thankful for my warm office!
The Panel has discussed future government policy on the historic environment and the forthcoming changes to the development control system. It seems no one can predict the effects of giving local authorities more power, but local vigilance is as important as ever. The Panel also discussed the treatment of coal mining remains and the over zealous activities of the Coal Authority which are damaging industrial sites unnecessarily.
The document on sources of information for the study of industrial archaeology and industrial history in Yorkshire and the North-east should appear on the Council for British Archaeology website in the near future. Contributions have been received from many sources including several members of the Industrial History Section, which are gratefully acknowledged.
I have represented the Industrial History Section at the Panel and have continued in my role as joint co-ordinator (with Harry Beamish of the National Trust). The generous support of the Section in supporting this role financially is most welcome.
At each meeting members report on the activities of their organisations – here is a summary.
Friends of Middleton Park Survey work at Middleton Park, Leeds by Martin Roe; exhibition at Lakeside Centre, Middleton Park. Volunteers for next season welcome: Tel: 07914 729 051 [email protected] .
Cleveland Industrial Archaeology Society Impact of Middle Haven Redevelopment Project, Middlesbrough. Substantial demolition – some pre-demolition photographic recording. Discussion on how best to influence and implement recording conditions. Photographs of Herbert Finn 1920s illustrations for Iron and Steel Trades Confederation.
David Cranstone Funding for study of coastal salt-making in England and Scotland. Information requested.
Tyne and Wear Annual Report (soon available on website) includes Newburn Steelworks, Jesmond Dean watermill and a feasibility study at Dunstan Staithes. Recording at Swalwell Ironworks, Smith’s Dock, North Shields, and Tanners Bank. Waggonway excavations at Wallsend and Weetslade Colliery. Other work at Monkwearmouth, Lambton coke works and Bowes Railway.
South Yorkshire Information on furnace sites; a model of Brooklyn Bridge to be built at Kelham Island; the wheel pit at Britannia works; Shepherd Wheel and Whirlow Grinding Wheel; Shirebrook valley leaflet; Don Sawmills timber store has been dismantled; archaeological work at Guest and Crown Foundry and Wortley Forge and Hoylandswaine Nail Forge opening for Heritage Open Days in September.
Beamish Masonic Lodge, Waggonway and Ginn projects completed. Next project a lamp cabin to include an exhibition.
West Yorkshire Archaeology Service Investigation of Paddock Viaduct, Huddersfield; Harewood Estate joiners and blacksmiths shop; Excavation during demolition of Monk Bridge Ironworks, Leeds (Kitson & Co); Evaluations of a glassworks/brickworks in Castleford including a Hoffmann Kiln and a reverberatory furnace on site. West Yorkshire Archaeology Day on 29 September 2007 at Leeds Armouries.
North Pennines Archaeology Summer School - July and August 2007 – Nenthead
Historical Metallurgy Developments at Wolsingham Steelworks - proposal for archaeological work.
Association for Industrial Archaeology Affiliated Societies Weekend in April at Ironbridge on Roads Request from English Heritage for input to ‘The Car Project’ Annual Conference in Preston, August 2007 Affiliated Societies Weekend 2008 – possible theme tanning – input requested.
National Trust Lindisfarne Boat Project leaflet produced. Progress at Gibson Mill, Hebden Bridge.
I’d be happy to give more details about any aspect of the work of the Panel and receive comments or issues for the next meeting in October.
A regional industrial archaeology conference for October 2008 is in the planning stage. Offers of help, short presentations on research or expressions of interest in displays are welcome.
David Cant [email protected] 1 May 2007
REPORTS OF LECTURES, VISITS AND SHORT ARTICLES Reports from 2006-2007 Lecture Programme Shipbuilding through Time – John Buglass 7 October 2006
John Buglass runs his own archaeological consultancy and is an experienced marine archaeologist who has worked on the Mary Rose project and excavated 25 ships ranging from the 14th century to the 2nd World War. He gave a comprehensive overview of the history of shipbuilding up until the development of steel ships, pointing out that techniques have changed over the centuries as technology has changed. The term ship refers to the way the sails are arranged on the masts and in general a boat is a craft which goes on a ship. The hull of a ship can vary according to what the ship is used for and there are different terms for types of hulls. John went on to describe and illustrate the various sources that can be used to identify types of ships. These included the actual archaeological remains; documentary sources; models; pilgrim badges; town seals; carvings and illuminated manuscripts.
He next described the major styles of shipbuilding in Northern Europe starting with the log boat – a hollowed out tree trunk. Later wood planks were added to the sides to make the craft taller, these were often sewn together. Viking boats were clinker built with overlapping planks rather then placed edge to edge. The fixtures and fittings such as nails can indicate the type of constructions and there was a close link between boats built in North East England and Scandinavia. The Mary Rose was an important ship and marked the development to larger ships. The average life span of a wooden ship was 15-30 years so finding the Mary Rose was gave a unique opportunity to examine the construction of ships of this period. John ended his talk by describing and showing examples of the types of tools used in shipbuilding, many of which could be seen in medieval illustrations. 18th Century Watercourses on the North York Moors – David Taylor 4 November 2006
David Taylor had participated in the Great Ayton Community Archaeology Project and contributed to Dr McLean’s book on Joseph Foord Water from the moors, published in 2005*. 250 years ago there was a lack of water for drinking and irrigation in the North York Moors. The population was growing and farming was becoming more intense. Some schemes failed because of poor soil and lack of water. There was plenty of water in north, with rainfall of 50” a year, but less on the warmer south-facing slopes in the south where agriculture needed it. People resorted to clay-lined dew ponds in the dry valleys, and these supplied water that was neither pure for drinking nor of adequate quantity.
Joseph Foord, the “man who made water run uphill”, constructed a system of linked water courses to provide water. Foord was born in 1714 and died in 1788, and may be buried in Thirsk graveyard. His theodolite is in the Ryedale Museum. As a boy, Foord lived at Fadmoor and had personal experience of the difficulties of getting water as he had to bring water in barrels for the cattle. Joseph Foord was a “belligerent” Quaker, sometimes at loggerheads with his own people, and was almost thrown out of the community. An illegitimate son in America did not help matters.
Foord explored the landscape to understand its geology and contours. Particularly significant for water supply and flow was the Sandstone high ground in the north and Oxford Clay and limestone in the south. He was knowledgeable about hydrology and milling. Foord envisaged bringing water from the north to the south, not in pipes, but along open rills using gravity to villages like Carlton, Pockley, Fadmoor, Stokesley and Pickering where the water was needed.
The construction of more than 70 miles of water courses lasted 21 years, from 1747 to 1768. There were 12 major water courses, the first being to Gillamoor. They were often sourced from a spring; the Rievaulx water course flowed 13 miles from a stream in Bilsdale. The main channel was to Fadmoor. Foord controlled speed of water flow by shape of channels, which were up to 18 inches deep. Where necessary he built embankments to enhance the gradient. The Roppa Edge embankment was 6 ft high and 15 ft wide. Features also included an aqueduct, created from a hollowed tree and some small bridges. When fields were enclosed water channels were cut under the stone walls. The water courses did not look dramatic as they follow the contours often with a gradient of only 1 in 100. The Nawton channel’s gradient was 1 in 356. Foord’s efforts were successful as the farming land and drinking water supply were vastly improved.
Problems encountered during construction included landslips, snow, ice, collapse of structures, theft of water and pollution from washing sheep hides. Foord had to take account of mills, such as Lastingham Mill, losing water from the rivers supplying the water courses. George Wright, of Beadlam, was appointed at £10 per year as a water bailiff to look after the water courses. He kept a daybook which was a valuable source of information.
Foord also worked for the Duncombe estate and surveyed the coal pits at Helmsley. The estate had no natural water supply so he pumped water from the pits to Duncombe Park. Where the water channels had to go through the mining area, Foord ensured that they were not affected by subsidence.
Early in the 20th century piped water began to be supplied from the springs used by Foord. A number of channels have filled in though the routes are still visible. However, over 200 years later some are still in use for drainage.
David’s well illustrated talk prompted a number of questions. He explained that sand was used to fill gaps to waterproof the channels; clay was rarely used. Only occasional repairs were needed. Local farmers and the lord of the manor got together to pay Foord. He also ran a farm and undertook enclosure mapping for landowners. Farms were created in areas of no water because they were near population centres. Small farms were enlarged as a result of the improved water supply.
*McLean, Isabel. Water from the moors: the life and work of Joseph Foord, North York Moors National Park Authority, 2005
Robert Vickers Granary Wharf and the Leeds Canal Basin – Jacqueline DePelle 9 December 2006
Jacqueline DePelle is a member of the YAHS Family History Section. She had run local history classes and created photographic “armchair walks” for her group. Jacqueline’s talk, illustrated by photographs taken in the past 5 to 10 years, was about the area around Leeds Canal basin and Water Lane.
The “walk” started at Granary Wharf which linked transport and food. This section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, linking Leeds to the sea westwards, was opened on 7 July 1777. The Aire and Calder Navigation linked Leeds eastwards to the sea. The Hol Beck has been culverted along Water Lane into the River Aire at Victoria Bridge. On to the Canal office, built in 1846 by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company. Until recently it was the Eye on the Aire headquarters. The company ran its own boats, collected tolls and maintained the Canal from this office. The towpath is now well used for cycling and walking. Slides showed new flats and old buildings converted to new uses along the canal. The Tower Works was founded in 1829 by T R Harding to manufacture steel pins for carding and combing machines for textile industry. The steel dust filter was inspired by Giotto’s campanile for the Duomo in Florence and the ornate brick chimney was inspired by the Lamberti tower in Verona. His son T W Harding, who became Lord Mayor of Leeds, commissioned City Square, laid out 1893-1903.
Over the past 15 – 20 years the area has seen much regeneration. Strenuous efforts are in hand to bring more freight back to the canal and improve water quality; there are fish in the river/canal and flowers on the banks. The Leeds Hospital Fund office on Canal Wharf is a modern classical style building. The leisure industry has developed along the canal and features have been restored. A number of mile posts were replaced in 1997. The historical interest has been recognised by Heritage trail plaques.
Traditional narrow boats were not used on the L&LC. Instead there were short but wide boats which carried 45 tons cargo. They were originally horse-drawn, and some former stables remain. The Company’s Granary warehouse of 1776 had a shipping hole for unloading into warehouse. Canal-side cranes e.g. the 1830s Slate Wharf crane and evidence of others remains. Soapy Joe’s – Wellington Soap Works - in Whitehall Road generated much traffic. There was a timber yard and stone cutting works. Flats and a hotel are planned to be built opposite the warehouse. The “walk” continued into the Dark Arches, a significant brick structure, with an eerie river view under Leeds Station. As well as red bricks, blue Staffordshire bricks were also used. The paving on the bridge over the river incorporates bricks impressed “electric” over cables.
Further recent development includes the Hilton Hotel, the Blue apartment building and the Green Flag offices on the riverside site of the Leeds Cooperative coal wharf. Here there were steam cranes by Booths of Rodley, one of which is now at Armley Mills Museum. Coal was brought to the wharf by 18 boat tub trains. The boat “Fair Maiden” had been moored at the site of the graving docks, adjacent to boat building yards. Bridgewater Place, a new 30 storey tower at the Junction of Neville Street and Water Lane, will become Leeds' tallest office and residential address. The “walk” ended at Victoria Bridge.
The well illustrated talk prompted discussion – do the new buildings and development represent progress or not? Amenities are needed to bring people into a deserted area. Sheila Bye remembered the “Fair Maiden” which used to run canal trips in the 1970s. Inspired by Jacqueline’s talk, a guided walk was planned, after the Section’s AGM on 12 April 2008, to see the area and how it had changed since Jacqueline had visited it.
Robert Vickers
The Restoration of Gayle Mill – John Cumberland 6 January 2007
Our speaker John Cumberland was a recognised authority on Gayle Mill being a Director of the Gayle Mill Trust and founder member of the Friends of Gayle Mill. Previously he had been Deputy Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and been a Forestry and Tourism Manager. His talk covered the history of the mill, its operation and the restoration.
Gayle Mill is situated on a small stream in the village of Gayle about half a mile from the town of Hawes in Wensleydale. The mill was built in 1784-5 by Oswald and Thomas Routh as a water powered cotton spinning mill, after 25-30 years it changed to spinning flax but by 1826 it was described as spinning woollen yarn. It was advertised for sale in 1841 as a cotton, flax and woollen spinning mill and by 1878 had been converted to a sawmill continuing to operate until 1988 using machinery dating from 1878. In 1879 a Thomson Double-Vortex turbine manufactured by Williamson’s of Kendal was installed, now believed to be the oldest surviving turbine in situ. By 1890 the turbine was being used to generate electricity for both the mill and associated house and by 1915 the Hawes Electric Company was supplying electricity for the village using the mill. In 1988 the mill closed but the Victorian wood working machinery, tools and turbine remained and the building was listed as a Grade II*. Conscious of the historical importance of the mill, it was purchased by the Yorkshire Dales National Park but little was done until the late 1990s when the North East Civic Trust was approached to find a viable future for the mill. The mill is owned by the North East Civic Trust and will be leased to the Gayle Mill Trust when the work of restoration is completed.
Mr Cumberland described in detail the layout of the mill and the watercourse which served it. Evidence showed that wooden beams in the mill dated from 1783/4 and originated in maritime Poland. The mill is on three levels, the saw driven by the turbine in the basement, the Victorian machinery on the ground floor and the top floor was empty.. The range of Victorian wood working machinery was illustrated and it is hoped to be able to demonstrate the machinery in the future, subject to health & safety considerations. The Williamson turbine had been overhauled in 1976 (probably for the first time) and a second turbine was installed in the 1920s provided by Gilkes to drive a generator. The remains of the DC lighting system will be restored to demonstrate DC lighting and the weir in the water course will need to be restored before the turbines can be run. Funding for the whole restoration has been obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and the European Development Fund and coming third in the overall final of the BBC Restoration programme gave additional publicity to the work.
Work has taken place to restore the mill leat and header-tank for the turbine, a third turbine was installed in 2006 to enable power to be fed into the National Grid to recoup some costs and wood boiler installed to heat the mill. Restoration work continues with the aim of being able to open the mill to the public as a tourist and historical attraction, to become a training establishment demonstrating the historical woodworking machinery and to produce high quality wood products for sale. There is a problem about parking at the site and it is likely that there will be ticket only access from Hawes. The Friends of Gayle Mill was established in 2003 and continues to promote the mill. Details of how to join the Friends were given out to the meeting and the number of questions raised following Mr Cumberland’s excellent presentation indicated the level of interest. It had been hoped to visit Gayle Mill on the YAHS trip to Wensleydale on 14 April but unfortunately the mill was not yet open to the public at that time. Mr Cumberland was unable to say when it would be definitely open, so members need to look out for any announcements.
. The Barnbow Lassies – Carole Smithies 10 February 2007
Carole Smithies was well qualified to address the subject. She had worked in the defence industry initially in a civil service desk job, then at Barnbow building tanks for Vickers Defence Systems. The factory closed in 1999 and she went to University for 3 years to read history.
Carole’s study of Barnbow was inspired by the life of Sally Howe, 1898-1999, who started, aged 17 in 1915, at the No 1 Shell Filling Factory. At this time Kitchener was demanding more ammunition for massive artillery barrages; before the Somme offensive on 1 July 1916 1m shells were fired at German lines. As a result, 250 Government owned munitions factories were established. Construction of the Factory on Barnbow Common started in August 1915. It used 6m bricks, 50 tons of cement, and required drains, steam pipes and 200,000 gallons of water daily. Production began in December 1915. During the war Government factories produced 4m rifles, 52,000 aeroplanes, 117m rounds of artillery shells; Barnbow contributed 500,000 tons of ammunition. Half a million women worked in the munitions factories. Of Barnbow’s 17,000 employees 16,000 were women. Women came from the woollen trade - Sally Howe had worked at a mill, from domestic work, farms and shops. Munitions work was very different from what they had done before. Life at Barnbow was hard, tedious, and, with noxious substances, dangerous. The factory worked 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, with no holidays.
Sally was a “trolley girl”, starting work at 6am. To transport shells around the factory, there were 70 trolleys pulled by ponies over 10 miles of narrow gauge railway. “Danger girls” fitted detonators into shells. The cases were filled with liquid TNT which was heated to 70o / 80o C in a bucket and poured in by a jug. Two bags of powdered TNT were added and then the fuse. If that did not fit it was hit with a wooden mallet! The chemicals were dangerous. AMATOL caused dermatitis; TNT caused lung damage, swollen hands, feet and jaundice leading to “Canary girls”. This was reclassified as dangerous work for which “danger girls got a ½d per hour pay rise. 40 million shells were filled over 3 years.
The managers and directors were men apart from 2 women managers. Before WW1 women did not get equal pay with men. Now they were doing skilled men’s jobs, helping to win the war. The Government and trade unions considered whether women should get equal pay, but were worried about pay differentials. However, in March 1915 the Treasury decided women should be paid the men’s rate, to “protect men’s wages after the war”. But men still earned more. With men in the forces, women had to work to support their families. The Ministry of Munitions established a Welfare department to look after women’s working conditions. Women supervisors made health checks and checked on absentees and “undesirable” women. The Barnbow Lassies fared well compared with mill workers. There were three good canteens: one for men, one for the “danger” girls and for the rest. 2,000 women were served at a time with 45 minutes for each sitting. There were also excellent medical and dental services.
Getting to the factory was not easy; it was outside Leeds for safety reasons. Barnbow Halt railway station was built, with sidings for incoming materials and outgoing shells, and passenger platforms 250 yards long. There were 38 special trains bringing 5,000 people per shift. The Barnbow Lassies were well known throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire for their high spirits. They sang their own songs on the trains and had a good time at dance halls and cinemas. Some chalked their names on shells to communicate with men in the trenches and some men wrote back.
The workshops were spread out across the 400 acre site and some were partially buried to reduce explosion damage. There were three explosions at Barnbow, the worst on 5 December 1916 just after 10pm when a 4” shell exploded. 35 women were killed and many more were wounded. The factory was emptied but work soon resumed. The news was hushed up, the Yorkshire Post merely reporting that there had been an explosion in a factory in the North of England, but work had not been interrupted. A collection was made for a memorial for the dead at York Minster. One of the dead, Edith Sykes was officially recorded as 17 when she died, but in fact she was 15.
After 1918 Barnbow was initially used as a store and then demolished. When men returned, engineering reverted to men’s work and across the country women were laid off. Women’s wages declined to half of men’s and many returned to domestic service.
Rearmament started in 1936. By 1939 there were seven Government factories and more rapidly followed. Begun in August 1939, ROF Leeds was built for gun manufacture, on 60 acres of green fields. Although it was a mile from the WW1 site the new factory became known as Barnbow. Once again large numbers were employed on war work. In 1939 2m people were unemployed; by 1944 only 84,000. As before, it was mainly women who worked in the ROFs. Before WW2 married women did not work; for instance on marriage women had to leave the Civil Service. At the beginning of the war all women were encouraged back to work. In 1942 Britain became the only country to conscript women. At Barnbow there were fatal accidents but less than in WW1. There were two shifts of 12 hours each; a fortnight on days then a fortnight on nights. This time there was more or less equal pay from the start. Despite strikes being banned in 1940 by an Order in Council, there were some. In 1943 there was one over who sits where. Information about the strike was difficult to get. It seems that one day a woman sat at a table traditionally used by male shop stewards, and a shop steward tried to move her. As a result, 1500 workers went on strike for 36 days.
After WW2 women left the factories as men returned from the forces. Britain had to be rebuilt and some of the factories continued, manufacturing fertiliser, prefab houses. Carbon previously used in TNT became printers’ ink and paper charge bags became bank notes. Barnbow became the Royal Ordnance battle tank factory which was later privatised and subsequently taken over by Vickers Defence Systems. Carole’s last job was building the Challenger 2 battle tank. Barnbow closed in 1999 after 50 years of tank manufacture.
Carole’s talk created a vivid picture of a little known topic and generated a number of questions and discussion. She explained how her interest in Barnbow had begun. She had started at the ROF Leeds in 1979. Having always been interested in history she decided to study at Park Lane College and went on from there. Research sources for the history of Barnbow in WW1 had been difficult to find. Valuable sources had been R H Gummer The story of Barnbow, Hunter & Sons, 1919, local newspapers, the York Minster Archives, interviews with Sally Howe. For Barnbow in WW2 sources included the Royal Ordnance Archive at Glascoed and personal interviews. An audience member explained that a shed from WW1 Barnbow had been removed to Colton, south east Leeds, as the village hall. The site of WW1 Barnbow is now green fields and Garforth Golf Club. Of the factory there is little evidence but humps in the ground.
Robert Vickers
The Defence of Britain Project – Roger Thomas 17 March 2007
Roger Thomas is the military support officer for English Heritage with responsibility for the whole of England providing advice on all military matters, mostly post medieval. The Defence of Britain project arose from the Fortress Study Group when it was realised that knowledge of 20th fortifications was patchy, this was demonstrated when a group visited Holderness over one weekend and located over 285 sites. The project ran from April 1995 – March 2002 and in total over 20,000 20th century military sites have been recorded mostly by volunteers. The project was funded by the Council for British Archaeology and the Heritage Lottery Fund. A reporting structure was set up to obtain information from mostly English counties and parishes using local people’s knowledge and the information deposited at the National Monuments Record. The CBA published findings in one of its Practical Handbooks in Archaeology Series (for reference see below) and information is still being recorded although not as part of the formal project.
Mr Thomas described examples of what has been recorded, these included Ringborough Battery on the Holderness coast and Fylingdales, before giving advice on what to look out for and sources for research. Some interesting sources were papers of local Highways Committees who were responsible for access to searchlight sites, Civil Defence Committee papers which often include plans of buildings and the RAF Museum contains detailed plans of airfields. Old postcards are a source for illustrating buildings and clothes and military handbooks help the understanding of what can be seen on the ground, both can often be obtained from postcard fairs and second hand bookshops. In 1946 every part of the country was photographed from the air in stereo and Mr Thomas showed a good example of Kempton Race Course which was used as POW camp. The Imperial War Museum holds a good photographic collection and personal photographs can also be important in identifying sites, as can old maps, although it was pointed out that often military installations were omitted from contemporary maps. We were shown examples and how to look out for structures such as Anderson shelters, Nissan huts, pill boxes, command posts, observations posts and food buffer stores which were often near railway lines or canals such as the one at Whitley Bridge. Defensive sites on the coast such as gun batteries, anti tank cubes and scaffold poles were at risk from coastal erosions. Also at risk is losing people’s memories of sites since for many people, recalling early and mid 20th century military sites and how they were operated doesn’t seem important or be regarded as “real” history. A fascinating talk and as Mr Thomas pointed out, the area around Leeds must have a lot of sites so those attending went away with their eyes opened as to where to look.
If members do wish to follow anything up, the final report of the project is available from the Defence of Britain website together with further information about the project and searchable databases. The website can be found at www.britarch.ac.uk/projects/dob/index.html. I searched on “Leeds” and only found a few entries so I suspect our speaker is correct that there are more sites to be identified. The publication 20th Century Defences in Britain edited by Bernard Lowry Practical Handbooks in Archaeology No.12published by the CBA 1996 (reprinted 1998) ISBN 1872414575 is also available.
Margaret Tylee
A NEW LOOK FOR AN OLD RAILWAY
Almost 250 years ago, in 1758, a wooden waggonway was built to take coal from pits at Middleton and Belle Isle, to the edge of Leeds. The first Act of Parliament predominantly concerned with the building of a railway protected its wayleave agreements.
Almost 210 years ago, around 1798, it was one of the earliest wooden ways to begin being re-laid with cast iron rails. 195 years ago, in 1812, the world’s first commercially viable steam locomotives began work on the Middleton Railway. They were also the world’s first rack railway locomotives.
47 years ago, a society begun by staff and students of Leeds University took over the running of a section of the Middleton Railway, providing a railway goods service for 2 local works premises. One of these companies, Messrs. Clayton, Son & Co., manufacturers of gasholders and large water storage tanks, allowed the society to use railway tracks and land at one side of its Dartmouth Works yard, and a collection of locomotives and other vehicles began to form there.
Almost 40 years ago, the society, by then called the Middleton Railway Trust, was hoping to create a headquarters and small museum in one of the recently closed Middleton Broom Pit buildings. Sadly, the buildings were vandalised as soon as they were abandoned by the National Coal Board in summer 1968. They had to be demolished, and the MRT lost its chance of a depot and museum.
Almost 25 years ago, Clayton’s sold their Dartmouth Works, and the MRT had 8 weeks in which to find a new home. The only place possible was the area surrounding the platform and shop (fashioned from 2 old-fashioned wooden railway containers), and work began immediately to provide additional tracks. With help from various grants, we also were able to build a brick and corrugated steel workshop, and a brick walled shop and ticket office with toilets (the first we’d ever had available in over 20 years!).
2 years ago, concerned that we were not able to offer visitors much beyond a train ride, we successfully applied for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to enable us to provide a safe viewing area for visitors to look at a selection of locomotives, education, research, and community use facilities, and a range of ways in which our visitors can learn more about this rather amazingly historic railway.
The downside of the project (for me anyway) was the amount of change which had to take place in the area of our shop and platform. The new building was to be of such a size that it would not fit anywhere else, and track alignments had to be changed, the old shop and platform demolished, etc. Worst of all, it was discovered late on in the project that the building had mysteriously been developed a metre north of where it should have been, and a short section of the railings which had surrounded the site for around 130 years was in the way of the statutory wheelchair access ramp. The large level-crossing gate post, slightly younger than the railings, had to be removed. It has now been re- erected at the far end of the car park, together with its former partner which had been taken down and stored some 30 years ago. They will be repainted and an information board placed beside them explaining their former purpose.
The railway largely closed down for most of 2005, whilst track was moved and a new platform was built by our volunteers, and the shell of the ‘resource centre’ was built by hired firms. Most of the fitting out of the building was done by our members, with some paid help. We are proud of the fact that the Middleton Railway is still one of very few preserved lines which are completely volunteer owned and operated. Last Easter, the railway re-opened, though the facilities were by no means completely in place (a few items still remain to be finished!). Gradually, since then, new exhibits have arrived, explanation boards have appeared with information about each of the locomotives on display, and about the various aspects of the railway’s history and of the history of the Leeds locomotive- building industry, which, for almost 2 centuries, was of worldwide importance. But I’m sure Don Tinsley will tell us all about that in the IHS’s 2007-2008 seasons of lectures. We are quite proud of the large wall map of the world, which Steam Railway magazine produced for us, showing how most countries of the world which had railways, had at least a few Leeds-built locomotives running on them.
As our contribution, husband Colin and I produced an audio-visual presentation explaining the salient points of the railway’s history, as told by a character from each era. The ‘parts’ were spoken by members of the society, including the youngest and oldest working members. We’re currently finalising a computer- based information ‘kiosk’ where visitors can access information and images connected with various aspects of the railway.
A number of exhibits have come on loan from the National Railway Museum (and its Shildon establishment), the National Mining Museum, and Armley Mills, who have loaned us their 1926 model of the 1812 ‘Salamanca’ locomotive and a 3ft. length of genuine Middleton Railway cogged rail which was used by the real ‘Salamanca’ and her 3 sister locomotives. Over 1300 images and a collection of research material has been installed on the research computer, which will enable students or any other interested person to access the large amount of material which has been discovered about our railway over the years. The range of images and research notes etc. will be added to gradually. We also have employed a small group of teachers to design a range of Key Stage-linked educational material for us, to help teachers to plan and get the most out of visits to the railway on our regular Schooltrain Days, and our Education Room will also be available for community use, conferences and company training sessions etc. On the ground floor of the 2 storey section of the building are the shop, toilets, and the cafeteria – which is extremely popular with visitors and members alike. A wheelchair-friendly lift links the two levels.
With most of its exhibits and explanatory devices in place, the resource centre – now known as ‘The Engine House’ – had its Grand Opening Day on the 14th April this year. The opening was performed by Sir William McAlpine, a railway enthusiast with a small locomotive of his own running on a mile of track at his home. Sir Jimmy Savile was among the many guests – he first visited us for a Savile’s Travels radio broadcast 40 years ago, and hardly seems to have changed since then.
Perhaps the IHS’s next season of lectures, which has a bit of a railway ‘slant’ to it, might be a good time for a group visit to see the Middleton Railway’s new look.
Sheila Bye April 2007
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SECTION OFFICERS 2007-2008 Chairman Vice- Lecture Membership Secretary Chairmen Secretary & Newsletter Editor
Margaret Tylee Sheila Bye Jane Ellis Margaret Tylee Bill Slatcher