NEWSLETTER 85 LATE SPRING 2012

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the latest Newsletter and we have reached the end of another lecture programme. Fortunately this season none of the lectures were affected by bad weather, although there was very heavy snow at home on 4 April following a week of summer sunshine. Thanks again to Jane Ellis for arranging a very interesting programme and the good news is that Jane has already completed the programme for 2012/13, outline details are given later in the Newsletter so please note them in your diary now. The full programme will be sent out with the Autumn Newsletter and will also be available on the YAHS website.

The Section AGM was held on 14 April when the existing Officers were re- elected; their contact details are given at the end of the Newsletter. Robert Vickers updated the meeting on current progress with the Industrial History database – we now have the blank software and Robert is in the process of writing some guidance notes for adding items to the database and for searching techniques, we will then be ready to start adding information – only two years after the suggestion was raised at an AGM! The Section Annual Report was considered and copies are included with the Newsletter for those members unable to attend the meeting. As usual the minutes of the meeting will be circulated with the Autumn Newsletter. Members also received a brief update on planning for the Society’s 150th anniversary celebrations due to be held in 2013. Each section has been asked to contribute an event and Robert will be leading a walk around Leeds based on his earlier walks on Sunday 12 May 2013 which will be open to all Society members. We are also considering holding a day school on aspects of industrial heritage in , which could also form part of the 2013/14 programme. There was no walk following the AGM this year which did allow more time for the Members’ Session where we had a number of interesting presentations including one from new member Derek Barker who wishes to find out more about an 18th century glassworks at Wibsey Moor, near Bradford. Members were also reminded that the lack of an afternoon walk gave the opportunity to visit the Open Day at the Walking Dragline at St Aidan’s, (the subject of our March lecture) which was being held that afternoon.

Each year, the Council for British Archaeology organises the Festival of British Archaeology as a showcase for the best of archaeology in the form of open days, excavations, lectures and walks etc. This year it is being held between 14-29 July and I have included some events in the Future Events section of the newsletter that have more of an industrial theme. To find out about everything that is on you can go to the CBA website www.britarch.ac.uk and follow the link.

This year’s AIA conference is being held at Writtle College, Chelmsford and will be exploring the industrial heritage of Essex of which there is a surprising amount. I have included a summary of the conference details later in the Newsletter. Full details can be found on the AIA website www.industrial- archaeology.org or contact me as I have hard copy forms. A welcome to new members who have joined since the last newsletter: Mr K Brockhill, Mr A Shaw and the Bordley Township Project – you can find out more about this group by visiting their website at http://bordleytownship.com.

I shall be producing the next Newsletter at the end of September in time for the start of the 2012/13 Lecture programme on 20 October, so please let me any news items/short articles in good time before then. I hope you have an enjoyable summer and that some of you can join the Section walk on 12 May when we shall be discovering Sheffield. If you can’t make that date then I hope you can make the first lecture.

Margaret Tylee

HELP WANTED

We have been contacted by Dr John Suter, a consulting civil engineer who has been studying the development of the civil engineering consultancy profession in Yorkshire with particular emphasis on the individuals who practiced in Leeds and Bradford, providing design services to clients. His research has already identified a number of the key players, their clients and the schemes they were responsible for. Examples include George Leather and his son, Charles Fowler and his sons and Martin & Fenwick. He would be interested to hear from anyone who has also researched this area or is interested in this aspect of research. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Section member Derek Barker has been researching 18th century Yorkshire glass making and found a reference in the Leeds Mercury for 11 June 1751 which mentioned a glass house on Wibsey Moor, near the site of the Low Moor ironworks. The term “glasshouse” was also shown on an early map of 1824 of Wibsey Moor and on the first OS map; the site is now a car park. He has been in touch with the local history groups and so far he has not been able to trace any other references. If anyone can help with further information please contact Derek at [email protected].

Claremont has been approached by a member of the public living in Northern Ireland who is researching the textile manufacturer E.Gordon Whiteley. He is particularly interested in information about their machinery from the 1950s-60s including adverts from trade journals, installation and wiring diagrams. Out of interest I “googled” the name and I assume this is the firm of textile machine manufacturers based at the Beech Works, Worrall Street, Morley, who made tentering and dying machines for local mills. If any member can help with more information or maybe knows someone who worked for the company please contact James Garvin via email at [email protected].

NEWS ITEMS

Network Rail has mounted some of their historical railway records on line at www.networkrail.co.uk/virtualarchive. The selection is of significant stations and structures including the Forth Bridge and Paddington Station; the only Yorkshire site I spotted was of Leeds Station which is somewhat disappointing considering the many significant railway structures that we have in Yorkshire.

Good news from Elsecar - Barnsley Council has been awarded £425,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a two year project to restore the historic Newcomen engine to working order using hydraulic power not steam; together with repairs to the engine house and shaft. There are also plans to improve the industrial heritage aspects of the site which formerly housed the workshops for the Earl Fitzwilliam’s mines and ironworks and is now mostly used as an antiques centre. The South Yorkshire Industrial History Society is visiting Elsecar on Saturday 21 July marking the 300th anniversary of Newcomen’s first atmospheric engine. The event is free but advance booking is required by contacting Derek Bayliss T 0114 2307693 by 7 July.

Another success for Barnsley is the award of £40k also from the HLF to the Worsbrough Mill Museum, near Barnsley. The money will be used to research into the history of the site and to make new display panels and interactive displays to improve the visitor facilities. The water powered 17th century mill still produces flour. Unfortunately, there have been delays with the completion of the new museum in Barnsley. Experience Barnsley is now not due to open until early in 2013.

Still with mills, Gayle Mill, near Hawes in Wensleydale has recently appointed a Development Officer and has an interesting programme of events during 2012. These include talks, hands on courses and regular monthly demonstration tours of the Victorian saw mill. Full details of all the events can be found on the website www.gaylemill.org.uk or by contacting Samantha Belcher T 01969 667320, If you become a Friend of Gayle Mill you can receive a 10% discount on the fees for the hands on courses, details of how to become a Friend are also available via the Gayle Mill website.

Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery, St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield is holding an exhibition about the life and legacy of George Stephenson from 19 May – 1 September. The museum is housed in the Stephenson Memorial Hall built in 1879 as the Mechanics Institute and named in honour of George Stephenson, possibly the town’s most famous resident. Open 10am-4pm (closed Wednesdays and Sundays); admission free.

The Cleveland Mining Heritage Society was formed in 2011 to bring together people interested in mining history and exploration. The group meets on the first Sunday in the month at Birtley Mine near Grosmont where they have access to an ironstone mine. Most weekends members are active in some form of mining exploration in areas such as Weardale, Nenthead and Pateley Bridge. Current subscription is £3 pa and more information can be obtained from the Secretary, Simon Chapman, 27 Oak Road, Brotton, Saltburn, TS12 2UZ, T 01287 676483 or email [email protected].

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

12 Discovering Sheffield. Industrial History Section walk in Sheffield. Meet 10am May Sheffield Railway Station. Pub/café lunch. Bus to Fulwood visiting newly restored Shepherd Wheel, walking back to Sheffield via waterwheel sites in the Porter Valley. Finish approx. 4pm. Details from Robert Vickers T 01937 588446.

17 Rockley Furnace Survey Launch. St James Hall, Stainborough, S75 3EN. 6.30 – May 8pm. ArcHeritage will be presenting the results of their survey commissioned by the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society, together with an archaeological and historical assessment of the site. Free event but places need to be booked in advance from Tegwen Roberts T 01226 767365 or [email protected].

19 Trent 150: Trent Station 1862-1968. EMIAC 83 hosted by the Railway & Canal Historical in May Long Eaton, Derbyshire. Talks and visits about the railways and waterways around Trent Lock and the Trent Triangle. Details at www.northants-iag.org.uk/emiac.html or from Paul Hudson, 64 Millers Way, Milford, Belper, DE56 ORZ.

19 Industrial History of the Upper River Sheaf. South Yorkshire Industrial History May Society (SYIHS) walk led by Graham Hague and Christine Ball. 10.30am – 3.30.pm. Meet Millhouses Park Café (SK333 828) for a 4mile walk to Totley, return by bus. Stout shoes/walking boots recommended. Bring picnic lunch. Details from Christine Ball T 0114 2361471.

21 The Coal Mines of Buxton – Alan Roberts. SYIHS lecture. Kelham Island Industrial May Museum, Sheffield. 7.30pm. £2 for non SYIHS members. Details from Derek Bayliss T 0114 2307693.

27 Kelham’s Riverside – a walk through the past & future. A Sheffield Industrial May Museums / Upper Don Walk Trust event. 7-9.30pm. Meet at Kelham Island Industrial Museum carpark. Details from Robin Fielder Tl 0114 2580575.

27 Water Power Walk. Organised by Sheffield Renewables. Walk from Kelham Island May to Meadowhall to look at their two proposed sites for water power generation. 10am- 4pm. Return by tram. Details from Jean Tinsley T 0114 2508367.

2 Morley to Outwood. Railway Ramblers 8 mile linear walk led by Douglas Robinson. June Bring packed lunch. Meet Morley Station at 10,21am. Details from Jane Ellis T 0113 2659970.

7-10 5th International Early Railways Conference. Caernarfon, North Wales. Public June lecture plus several 30 minute and shorter papers. Full conference £145 with day tickets available. Details and booking form at www.erc5.org.uk.

16 Dragline Open Day. St Aidans Opencast Coal site, Swillington, Leeds LS26 8AL. 2 – June 4pm Admission free. Details from Paul Thompson T 07889286634.

15 Hoylandswaine Nail Forge Open Day. First opening to the public following major July repairs. Barnsley Road, Hoylandswaine, South Yorkshire. 11am – 4pm. Details from Derek Bayliss T 0114 2307693. Free.

15 RAF Riccall. 3 mile guided walk around the remaining buildings of this WWII air July base. Stout shoes recommended. Meet at King Rudding Lane car park YO19 6QL, off A19 at Riccall. 1.30pm. Contact Mark Simpson T 07760294954. 20- Alfred Ellis & Sons - Ironfounders. An exhibition of archive material and artefacts 21 from this Wakefield company founded in 1850. Chantry Chapel, Wakefield Bridge, July Wakefield. Contact Kate Taylor T 01924 372748. Free.

21 SYIHS visit to Elsecar led by Graham Hague and a guide from Barnsley Museums. July To see the Newcomen engine, workshops and a walk around the village. 2pm. Free parking available opposite Elsecar Park. Meet outside the main gate of the workshops in Wath Road. No charge but booking required; contact Derek Bayliss T 0114 2307693 by 7 July.

21 The Whaling Industry in Yorkshire – John Goodchild. Wakefield Historical Society July lecture. Westgate Chapel, Wakefield. 11am. Free.

21 East & West Yorkshire Union Railways. Advance notice of aRailway Ramblers July walk. Details from Jane Ellis T 0113 2659970.

21- The Evolution of a Windmill. Open day at the 1770 Holgate Windmill. Windmill 22 Rise, Holgate, York, YO26 4TU. 11am -4pm. £3 Adults, children free. Contact Jenny July Hartland T 01904 624387.

28 Aysgarth to Hawes. Advance notice of a Railway Ramblers walk. Details from Jane July Ellis T 0113 2659970.

28 Working the High Ground: the Lead Industry in Bordley. A guided walk around July the northern part of Bordley township. Meet Malham Moor Lane BD23 6NE (GR 951 653) 10am – 4pm. Walking boots or strong shoes needed for rough terrain, bring packed lunch. Contact [email protected].

Calderdale Heritage Walks

The summer programme of walks exploring the history of Calderdale is now available. Copies can be obtained from www.CalderdaleHeritageWalks.org.uk. The walks are between 2- 3hours and led by an experienced and knowledgeable guide; the normal charge is £3 per person and there is no need to book. Below is a small selection of the walks with a more industrial theme.

20 Wainstalls Mills. Visit old textile mills around the village from water-powered to the May mid 20th century. Stout shoes needed. No dogs. Meet Iain Cameron at 2.15pm by the bus terminus in the centre of Wainstalls, 3 miles N.W. of Halifax.

1 The Town on the Cliff. Explore the ancient village of Clifton with mining, wire and June Brontes in the past. Meet David Nortcliffe at 7.15pm by the War Memorial and Green in the centre of the village, a mile east of Brighouse. 2 Mid Colden. See how waterpower was used for the mills in the Colden Valley June together with packhorse routes and other points of interest. Meet Justine Wyatt at 2.15pm where the Pennine Way crosses the Hebden Bridge to Blackshaw Head road. Boots recommended. 4 Sowerby Bridge, South Side. A look at how the town developed south of the river, June the importance of the railway and the changing fortunes of industry. Met Ed Westbrook at 2.15pm at Sowerby bridge Railway Station by the Jubilee Refreshments rooms. 16 Power in the Landscape. Discover water and steam powered mills in the Lower June Colden Valley. Meet Justine Wyatt at 2.15pm at Hebden Bridge Parish Church. Boots needed. 10 Village of Vision. Copley was one of the first industrial villages, Visit the village and July see inside the church. Meet Liz Watkins at 7.15pm by Copley Church. 29 Lower Rastrick. Explore the waterside area where Brighouse meets Rastrick July including its housing, industries and transport infrastructure. Meet David Nortcliffe at 2.15pm by the Assembly Rooms carpark, Briggate, Brighouse. 12 Luddenden Village. A walk around this village looking at its history and involvement Aug with the textile industry, Brontes and more. Meet David Cant at 2.15pm by the New Road carpark at the Luddenden Foot end of the village.

Association for Industrial Archaeology 2012 Conference

Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex. 10-16 August

The 2012 conference has been organised by David Alderton and Tony Crosby and is being held at this ex-agricultural college. The campus will be shared by others and it is likely that booking of accommodation related to the Olympics will mean early booking is recommended. The conference will follow the usual format with a day seminar on Friday 10 August on an archaeological approach to 20th century sites. The main conference runs from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime with lectures, reports and members’ contributions. From Sunday afternoon until Thursday afternoon there will be a series of trips to various sites with evening talks. Sites to be visited include Sandford Mill which holds the industrial heritage collection of Chelmsford Museums, the Museum of Power at Langford (in steam), Beeleigh Mill, a 5 storey watermill, Gurteens clothing factory, Haverhill, the Kelvedon Hatch Nuclear Bunker, Flatford Mill (of John Constable fame), Lavenham, East Anglian Railway Museum, Bulmer Brickworks and a 2 hour cruise on a Thames Sailing Barge.

The cost depends on how long you wish to stay and which trips you wish to join. For example the residential cost for the main weekend conference is £176, dinner B&B during the week is £59 per night and the cost of each trip is between £31-£44. Full details of the programme and the booking form are available on the AIA website: www.industrial-archaeology.org. or as a paper copy from me.

Margaret Tylee

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SECTION LECTURE PROGRAMME 2012/13

Advance Notice for your diary 20 Oct 2012 Domestic linen production in the West Riding – Liz Paget 17 Nov 2012 Tom Puddings – Rachel Walker 15 Dec 2012 Stately trains restoration – Stephen Middleton 26 Jan 2013 Historic quarries in Yorkshire & beyond – Ivor Brown 23 Feb 2013 No trouble brewing – Peter Robinson 23 Mar 2013 Mine surveying – a brief history- David Randon 27 April 2013 AGM & members’ session

REPORTS OF LECTURES, VISITS. ETC

Reports from the 2011-12 Lecture Programme

When is a Slum not a Slum – Peter Connelly

15 October 2011

Peter Connelly is the Project Director of the excavations at Hungate in York. The project “Dig Hungate” is the biggest single excavation in York taking 5 years to complete from late 2006 and investigating a period from Roman times to the 21st century. The project is run by the York Archaeological Trust but with the active involvement of the local community who have helped with some of the excavations. Dr Connelly’s talk focused on the late 19th and early 20th century period when Hungate was a notorious slum, situated to the south east of the city centre, it is now adjacent to the Foss regeneration area. The area was identified by Seebohm Rowntree as one of the main slum areas in York in his survey of the working class of York carried out in 1899-1900 and published in 1901 as Poverty: a study of Townlife and it has retained that description since then. Interestingly Rowntree found that there was a strong sense of community in the area and the people had no wish to move to a better neighbourhood. The area lies in a natural dip in the landscape and was developed on the site of market gardens from the 1770s onwards. Speculative building began later, much of it using recycled bricks – which can cause confusion for the archaeologists.

Using maps and photographs we were shown the extent of the excavations and the finds. There were different styles of housing from the 1830s onwards: some with one room below and two above, others were one up and one down and others were two up/two down, Generally they were well built but many of the streets were cleared in the 1930s and 40s. There was an industrialization of the landscape from the 19th century with the earliest building that of the York Union Gas Light Company opened in 1837 adjacent to the River Foss for ease of transport. The site was sold in 1850 following the amalgamation of the gas company with its rival the York Gas Light Company. Part of the site was bought by William Bellarby and converted to a sawmill, which closed and was demolished in the 1930s. The excavations revealed parts of the building, a cobbled road and yard. The second building on the site was Leetham’s Flour Mill which became one of Europe’s largest four mills. It was developed by Leetham & Sons who became the biggest flour millers in the country by 1900 having moved to roller milling in the 1880s. The building suffered a major fire in the 1930s and the only remaining structure is the wharfside now known as Rowntree’s Wharf. Fortunately excellent photographs of the mill taken when still working do exist. Turning back to the excavations of the housing, these revealed examples of how sanitation facilities improved from the 1900s with a well preserved block of toilets flushed by the Duckett tipper system replacing the original cess pits of the 1850s. Using the census returns from 1841-1901 the movements of the inhabitants have been traced showing that a large proportion came from York or other parts of Yorkshire. The houses were compulsorily purchased in the 1930s and the people were moved to new council estates. By the 1950s the whole area was cleared, covered over and became a car park.

Returning to the title of his talk, Dr Connelly pointed out that according to the current UN Habitat Slum Indicator, the Hungate area would not be defined as a slum.

A fascinating talk highlighting the industry of York and in particular drawing on the actual experiences of the people who were still living in the area in the 1930s.. York Archaeological Trust has published a book drawing on personal memories from Hungate residents entitled “Rich in all but Money” by Van Wilson; revised edition 2007, price £9.99. A report on the excavations is also due to be published.

Margaret Tylee

Lost Lines of East Yorkshire - Victor Lee

19 November 2011

Through railway rambles Victor Lee has studied and photographed the lost lines in East Yorkshire. This was a significant farming area and the lines were built in the mid/later 19th century, primarily for freight traffic – cattle, grain, fertilizer and coal. Passenger traffic was a useful extra. Mr Lee took us on virtual journeys along four lines radiating from Market Weighton to: York; Selby; Beverley and Hull; and finally Driffield.

The line to York, opened in 1847, was built by the York & North Midland Railway (Y&NMR), which became part of the North Eastern Railway (NER) in 1854. The line not as commercially successful as anticipated and some stations were closed in 1890. More closed in 1959 and the line closed entirely in 1965. Market Weighton station has been demolished, but Pocklington station is now a school sports hall. The brick and cast-iron viaduct across the River Derwent at Stamford Bridge has been repaired as part of a footpath. The Y&NMR’s line from Market Weighton to Selby opened in 1848. At Selby there were connections to Leeds, and the south. The line closed to passengers in 1954, and completely in 1965. The NER’s line to Beverley opened in 1865; it was extended to Hull Paragon station the same year. The section to Beverley was closed in 1965 and is now the George Hudson Way, which passes Kipling Cotes station, now a house, and signal box. Buildings on these lines were designed by the Y&NMR/NER architect George Townsend Andrews. His output included stations e.g. Market Weighton, Pocklington - grandly built to impress the local gentry - and Hull Paragon; crossing cottages; railway houses. Many featured his trademark arched chimneys, making those which remain easily identified.

From Hull the NER opened a line to Hornsey in 1864. The line closed in 1964 and Hornsey station was converted to housing. A line was also built to Withernsea to transport its fish to market, replacing boats that could no longer use Patrington Haven, which had silted up. Withernsea’s station and hotel were designed by Cutherbert Brodrick. Also for exports, the Hull & Barnsley Railway opened in 1885 to ship Barnsley coal through Hull. The traffic was mainly coal with few passengers. The line closed in 1965.

The last of the four lines was Market Weighton to Driffield which was opened by the NER in 1890. It also closed in 1965. From Cliffe on the Selby to Driffield Line the Derwent Valley Light Railway (DVLR) was opened to Layerthorpe in York in 1913 to carry mainly freight - coal, fertilizer and grain. Passenger numbers were small and these services were withdrawn in the 1920s. Curiously, the DVLR was not nationalised in 1948 and remained a private company. The line gradually closed from the 1960s and the last section, into York, closed in 1981. Wheldrake Station which closed in 1965 was preserved and rebuilt at Murton where the DVLR Society operates a small section of the DVLR.

Mr Lee explained that a feature of these lines was that many stations were some distance from the places they were named after as the lines went across country. The NER tried to avoid potential confusion by not using station names that duplicated others already on the railway network. Thus Huntington Station was renamed Earswick, Stockton became Warthill, and the station at Great Hatfield was named after the distant Sigglesthorne.

This interesting talk showed the former extent East Yorkshire rural railway network that has now disappeared. It was well illustrated with many photographs taken in 1970s/1980s of buildings now demolished and some which remain as a reminder of the past.

Robert Vickers

History of the Gas Industry – Barry Wilkinson

10 December 2011

The speaker had spent his working life in the gas industry and although having retired some 20 years ago had retained his interest in the industry, He was the Chair of the History Panel of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers and editor of Historic Gas Times. The industry began in the 1700s when it was realised that baking coal in a confined space e.g. a kettle, produced a gas which could be lit when in contact with the air. A Scot, William Murdoch, pioneered the use of coal gas for lighting when he was working for Boulton & Watt in Birmingham in 1792. The Boulton & Watt factory was lit by gas in 1802/3 and Murdoch proceeded to sell gas systems to textile mills in the north where it was safer than using candles. He worked with his apprentice Samuel Clegg and the first mills lit by gas were at Sowerby Bridge and Salford in 1805. The gas had to be purified and ammonia, tar and sulphur were extracted. Initially gas was only used for lighting and it took seven years before the use of gas extended to a public supply, the first gas works company being set up in Westminster in 1812, followed by the Leeds Gas Company in 1818 and Harrogate in the 1820s. The Reading Room of the Leeds Library still has an original gas light installed in 1852. Trafalgar Square in London had gas lamps from 1815 onwards. Since coal gas was lighter than air it was used to fly balloons; an example shown was in Leeds in 1821.

The next development was the use of gas for heating with the discovery of the Bunsen burner which mixed gas with air to produce a blue flame with no soot. This led to gas fires, gas for cooking and heating water, General Gordon possessed an iron bath where the water could be heated by a gas ring underneath. We were also shown very decorative examples of terra cotta gas fires and decorated gas cookers. Interestingly the working classes appeared not to be enthusiastic about the use of gas, preferring to continue to use cast iron ranges heated by coal, no doubt cost played a part here. Turning to the development of the industry in Leeds, the firm of Wilson & Mathieson was founded in the 1880s in a building near to where the Leeds Industrial Museum is today, manufacturing gas stoves amongst other things and becoming part of the New World group in the 1920s, an example of one of their stoves can be found in the York Castle Museum. George Bray & Sons L was another Leeds company, founded in 1863 manufacturing gas burners. The company developed a special burner made of brass with a porcelain tip which proved more efficient and less costly and is still made today.

Gas engines, an early type of internal combustion engine, became popular in the 1920s, an example being installed in Manningham Mills, Bradford. Competition from electric companies increased from the 1880s onwards but the invention of the gas mantle in the 1890s greatly improved illumination. Other products being introduced included gas irons, gas fires, gas powered vehicle, increasingly decorative gas cookers and gas fridges. Private gas companies expanded during the 1920s and even provided travelling showrooms to attract customers in outlying districts. However the gas industry was nationalised in 1949 and many small gas works closed down as a gas grid was established. The Clean Air Act of 1956 meant a move away from coal and oil processes were developed for making gas, followed by the discovery of gas from the North Sea which meant a massive conversion exercise for gas appliances, it took from 1968-1976 to complete the exercise for Yorkshire.

The talk was well illustrated with archive photographs of gasworks including Meadow Lane and ended appropriately with the retort house on Gill Lane, Yeadon, with its inscription “Ex Terra Lucem” – out of the earth, light. For members interested in knowing more about the history of the gas industry a visit to the National Gas Museum is recommended. The address is 195 Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7QJ; it is open Tuesday-Thursday 12-4.30pm with free admission and parking. See the website www.gasmuseum.co.ukfor more details. Margaret Tylee

Water power on Sheffield rivers - Christine Ball

14 January 2012

As co-author of Water power on the Sheffield rivers Section member Christine Ball was well qualified to address the subject. She explained that Sheffield is situated on five rivers: the Don in the north, the Porter, the Rivelin and the Loxley in the west; and the Sheaf in the south west. The earliest reference to the use of water power in the area is the Rotherham corn-mill, in Domesday Book. Water power was in use on Kelham Island from the 12th century. The manorial estates of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Shrewsbury invested in mills, and Sheffield had a fulling mill by 1332. By the end of the14th century there were five mills in the town centre milling corn, grinding edge tools and producing iron.

Geology was important in determining where to site the mill or dam for the best water flow. It was essential to be able to channel and control the flow to get most power. The Lutteral Psalter, c1330, shows goits and sluices built of wood; it was easy to use and stone was not always available. Timber piling with stone behind was used for embankments. Little is known of the millwrights who built the early mills and related structures, but their skill is evident from the timber framed buildings that have survived.

Mrs Ball outlined some of the uses of mills and water. In the 1570s/80s the Earl of Shrewsbury developed his estates to increase his income to keep up with the cost of guarding Mary Queen of Scots and his mills produced and worked metal. There is evidence of blast furnace technology being for iron production and there were tilt hammers at Attercliffe by 1586-7. Excavation in 1999 at the site of the town corn mill, near Lady’s Bridge, showed that uses of the mill had changed over the years. In the 18th century Naylor Vickers & Co used the site, producing cementation steel. Brightside weir originally fed a corn-mill; by 1650 it was a forge with water-powered bellows and tilt hammers. Some sites had several uses during the year; corn-milling for 6 months, iron making for the other 6 months. Wortley Top Forge is a preserved example of a heavy hammer mill. On the River Porter,Wilson’s Snuff mill, dating from 1768, has a working water wheel. Thomas Boulsover’s first Sheffield Plate mill, c1740, in the town-centre, was previously a wire mill. Later, he established his works in Whiteley Wood. In the 1830s John Dyson was producing scythes and billhooks at Abbeydale Works.

As the cutlery and steel industries grew in the 18th and the 19th centuries, conflicts between companies over water use frequently arose. Work to improve navigation on the Don to facilitate transport of finished products, interfered with water- powered mills. Additionally, Sheffield’s growing population needed more drinking water and water companies began to build reservoirs, meeting opposition from River Don mill owners. By the early 19th century water use had reached capacity and steam power was introduced more rapidly.

Concluding her talk, Mrs Ball noted that from the 1920s Sheffield Corporation began acquiring land along the river valleys to plant woodland and create parks. Water mills were falling into disuse and some wheels and buildings were demolished, but the Corporation encouraged the preservation of historic sites such as Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Shepherd Wheel by the Sheffield Trades Historical Society. Recently the Friends of the Porter Valley have restored Shepherd Wheel to working order.

We learned much about the development of Sheffield’s water powered industries from a well-illustrated presentation. A number of sites have been preserved and we will see some of them on our walk in Sheffield, including Shepherd Wheel, which has its official opening on 12 May. Mrs Ball mentioned a number of information sources, of which the following are a selection:

History and description of the Sheffield Water Works by William Terrey. Pawson & Brailsford, 1908

Water mills of Sheffield by W T Miller. Pawson & Brailsford, 1947

Water power on the Sheffield rivers edited by Christine Ball, David Crossley and Neville Flavell, 2nd ed. South Yorkshire Industrial History Society, 2006

Sheffield Flood Claims Archive, Sheffield Hallam University http://www2.shu.ac.uk/sfca/

Robert Vickers

Bus manufacture in Leeds - Chris Wise

25 February 2012

Chris Wise is the Commercial Director for , having joined Charles H Roe L, bus builders, as an apprentice. Roe’s was established in 1923 at Manston Lane, Cross Gates, Leeds. In 1985 the company became Optare, now part of Indian- based which is one of the world’s top five commercial vehicle producers. Optare moved to a new factory at Sherburn-in-Elmet in October 2011 and the Manston Lane site is being re-developed. Demolition has revealed underground WW2 air raid shelters, necessary as Roe’s, who produced military equipment and were close to the ROF, would have been a target for German bombers.

Optare has c.500 employees and builds c.600 vehicles a year; 10,000 have been built since 1985. Most are for the UK, but some are exported, particularly to Turkey and the USA. In 1985 Optare introduced a range of small buses - the “Nipper”, and in 1986 the “City Pacer” which was more stylish than the converted vans produced by competitors. This was a conscious effort to produce an attractive design to get people onto buses, and influenced vehicle design within the industry. The range expanded with the full length, 12mtrs, “Delta” in 1988 and double-decker “Spectra” in 1991. In the subsequent 20 years the range developed, now concentrating on single-deckers.

He explained that the move to a modern building on a former part of the Sherburn-in-Elmet airfield has enabled big improvements in the manufacturing processes. Wherever possible, identical parts are used throughout the range. Stainless steel frames, produced by a third party nearby, are panelled in aluminium. Hand operated spray painting is able to produce car quality finish, and the improved work environment has greatly reduced the need for post-spray rectification. The engine, gearbox and radiator are built in a power-pack that is fitted to the completed body. The rear-mounted pack can be removed in two hours for easy maintenance or replacement. Engines are supplied by Mercedes, Allinson, an American subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc, or Cummins. Each bus is completed in three weeks and vehicles are thoroughly inspected before leaving the factory. Buses have an expected operating life of 10-15 years – which clients require from a vehicle costing over £100k. Optare continue to design vehicles that look different. Livery is important to give buses a distinctive external appearance; internally, there are bright colours and leather seats. Mr Wise mentioned two developments aimed at reducing CO2 levels and running costs. Firstly, a hybrid diesel electric bus with a super-capacitor on the roof, which is 30% more efficient than a diesel bus. A batch has recently been supplied to Manchester. Secondly, an electric bus that has a 75-100 mile range on one charge. He noted that electric buses would be more practical if a range of 200 miles could be developed. Use of hydrogen fuel cells and flywheel energy was being pursued.

Answering questions, Mr Wise explained that C H Roe’s records, including engineering drawings, are at Leyland Transport Museum; the collection of vehicle photographs needs a permanent home. Bus seats used to be covered by cloth supplied by Holdsworths. Now, leather, which is easy to clean, is supplied by Andrew Muirhead & Son L, Glasgow.

The talk was well illustrated with archive photographs of Roe-bodied buses and pictures of Optare’s range of vehicles. It was interesting to hear about a modern company that has continued from one established almost 90 years ago. Today’s processes will themselves soon be history.

Robert Vickers

Early Preservation Work at Caphouse Colliery and the St Aidan’s Walking Dragline - Ivor Brown

24 March 2012 Ivor Brown has been involved with the preservation of industrial sites from a very early age – his first slide showed him aged 3 trying to dig a mine in his garden in Shropshire. He started work age 15 in the Madeley Wood colliery and left in 1962 to become a lecturer in Doncaster. He retained his links with Shropshire through his associations with the Shropshire Mining Club and was instrumental in salvaging material from disused mines. The Club opened up the Tar Tunnel and worked with the Telford Development Corporation in identifying sites for the Ironbridge Museum eventually created at Blists Hill where the aim was to create a shaft to link with the Tar Tunnel. Between 1971and 1977 he worked with the Telford Development Corporation in the identification and closure of over 4,000 mine shafts in the area.

He moved to work for West Yorkshire County Council in 1977, who had plans to preserve aspects of local industry- three projects were considered: the creation of a mining museum, the creation of a transport museum and re-opening the Standege Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Walton Colliery near Sandal was identified as a suitable base for a mining museum; the site still had 10 steam engines on site and a good range of mining buildings. However further investigation identified problems with water in the shafts which would require constant pumping to enable underground tours to take place and potentially very high costs associated with the removal of asbestos lagging. Regretfully the site was abandoned and everything on site was scrapped including a fine Fowler engine. Attention then turned to nearby Caphouse Colliery where there were two steam engines with good access having a 1:4 adit as well as a shaft and a rare pre 1911 timber headframe. The colliery was due to close in 1982/3 and the speaker was given the task of designing a “mining experience” which would include an underground tour. We were shown his original plans as well as those drawn up by the National Coal Board and heard how he worked out the route and timings for the visitor, including a novel system of lighting which encouraged the guides who were ex-miners, to move on to the next information point. It had proved difficult initially to stop the guides from talking too much with the result that the tours were taking too long! With the abolition of the County Council in 1986, he lost his job, but the museum continued to flourish and is now being extended into old workings. For more information about the National Coal Mining Museum see the website: www.ncm.org.uk

For the second part of his presentation, Ivor Brown turned to his involvement with the walking dragline (in reality this formed the third part of his talk since we had already heard about his involvement with the early days of Blists Hill) He described how the machine operated typically at opencast sites such as at Corby where the Rapier model weighed 1800 tons with a 300ft jib. Machines cost around £18million and due to their size were realistically only capable of working on one site. Leonardo da Vinci produced the first design of a recognisable walking dragline and they were manufactured from the 1900s onwards, examples were used in the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal. Bucyrus Erie was a common make and there was competition between US and UK manufacturers. However because of the cost and the difficulty of moving them to other sites, they were gradually replaced by shovel excavators and trucks. It was felt important that examples needed to be saved and a Friends group was set up with the aim of preserving at least one machine. Two machines had been working at the St Aidan’s opencast site near Allerton Bywater just outside Leeds and the speaker had a plan to develop a museum of vertical transport on the site featuring the dragline and examples of cranes from companies such as Smith’s of Rodley. In the end it proved difficult to get the necessary co-operation and agreement. The St Aidan’s site had been operated as an opencast coal mine since the 1940s, it was extended in 1981 but in March 1988, the embankment separating the site from the Aire & Calder canal gave way flooding the site, fortunately the two draglines were saved being on higher part of the site. It took 10 years to repair the breach which involved rerouting the canal and river. The walking dragline that was saved was built by Bucyrus Erie in 1948 in Wisconsin, USA and shipped to the UK in the 1950s, being re-assembled at the St Aidan’s site in 1972. it weighs 1200 tons and is called Oddball because it runs at 60 cycles not 50 and requires a transformer to operate its 9 motors. The dragline was offered to the Friends group by Richard Budge and they received £110k from the Heritage Lottery to restore it. A condition of the grant is that it should be open to the public at least three days a year. Mining has long ceased at the site and it is now owned by the RSPB who are developing it as a country park. There are still major problems with vandalism and thefts of copper. For members who wish to see the dragline and associated displays, this year’s remaining Open Days are on 16 June and 8-9 September 2-4pm. Admission free.

A fascinating talk, which described the early days of two important industrial museums and the speaker’s ongoing involvement with a third.

Margaret Tylee

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INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SECTION OFFICERS 2012-2013

Chairman & Newsletter Editor Vice-Chairman & Membership Secretary Lecture Secretary Margaret Tylee Robert Vickers Jane Ellis