The History of Consett Steelworks (HCSW) project team are delighted we have been approached by Richard Eyers regarding a project he is starting as part of his part time MA university studies
He writes
The idea of the Faces of the Works project comes from a part time documentary photography MA course that I’m doing, and seeing the traces of the Steelworks around Consett, and always hearing about it, but knowing little, having only moved into the area twenty years ago.
I want to try and capture memories and faces, and also to picture the new generations in the same families, whilst recording some of your stories.
I should stress that I’m not a professional and this isn’t a commercial project, but I will want to share the project with the community. You can see some of my photography on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/remotelyrockdr/) and on www.knitsley.com.
It would be great to talk to you and to find a place where you would be comfortable being photographed. If you’re open to the idea, by email (rock_dr@me.com) or by phone 07736 674360.
Happy to meet somewhere in Consett, like Morrisons, Wetherspoons, or wherever you would prefer.
Updates
There will be regular updates on the HCSW website and Facebook group and in due course we will work with Richard to arrange a “travelling exhibition” and other ways of sharing the results of the project
Another good example of HCSW project team supporting others as part of “recording” the rich history and memories of the Steelworks
Posted on by John Donnelly Courtesy of Keith Turner, three new photos of the last train at South Pelaw, Leadgate and Consett. Added to the Last Passenger Train page.
If you have any railway related images that you would consider sharing please do comment or email us and we can arrange support to scan if needed and for the scanned images to shared both to HCSW and also to southpelawjunction websites
The last train rounds Brooms Curve just outside Leadgate on 17 March 1984. Photo copyright Keith Turner
The History of Consett Steelworks (HCSW) project are delighted to announce we will be working Billy Ellwood who has some wonderful negatives from the late Tommy Moore to arrange to support scanning and sharing the images
Biily is also “film maker” and made this video “Out of the Wreckage” which recently some “stills” have been shared on the Facebook group recently
The HCSW project team are delighted that Billy has approached us and shares our wish to share these memories not only for us to enjoy now but also for the future generations to come
The project team would also like to ask that when sharing images that you try and credit the original photographer where possible. We also may ask you to add credit once confirmed
We are exploring have a coffee morning every other month from Jan 2022 on a Saturday morning 10am-12am at Consett Methodist Church but would need to ask for donation of £2 as we do have pay for the hire of the venue for the 2 hours at a cost £30.
If anyone would like to do a 1 hour max talk/presentation at one of the coffee mornings please do get in touch
We are also beginning to look at funding applications for various projects next year.
We need to grow the number of subscribers to our website blog as this is something we can add to applications to indicate local interest
If you are happy to be added to receive the blog posts by email please do get in touch or comment and we will get back to you
The History of Consett Steelworks project team are delighted to share and encourage all to visit this display by our heritage partners CDHI
Brian Harrison from CDHI writes
The CDHI have put up a display commemorating the closure of Consett Steel, 41 years this month.
The display can be seen at the front of the Lodge in Blackhill & Consett Park, when the building is open, for the next few weeks.
We plan on doing rolling displays at least once a month from now. If you get a chance to have a pop in we hope you enjoy
More about CDHI
Consett & District Heritage Initiative are a voluntary organisation.
The group was founded in May 2010 with the goal to make the history of our area accessible to all.
We believe in education and have already given numerous school display’s and talks.
In the past 10 years we have also had numerous open days and seen 1000’s people through our doors.
Our Archives are growing at a steady rate with donation’s of photo’s, postcards, books and artefacts and we hope this continues.
Through archiving and sharing of information we hope to save our history for the future generations.
We are based in The Lodge, Blackhill & Consett Park where we have our office on the second floor.
The Lodge is located just up from the bottom gates on the left. Our office is open every Wednesday from 10am -4pm for anyone interested in finding out more about our local history or to give help with your family history (Tuesday 10-12.30).
The History of Consett Steelworks project team are delighted to announce our first in person event of 2021
A coffee morning on Sat 11th Sept 10am-12 noon at Consett Methodist Church
We will have a rolling video presentation of pictures, maps to enjoy
Please do come along and have a cuppa. We would also love to discuss and see any pictures/documents you may have and explore how we can scan them to add to the website
Refreshments will be available for a small donation to the church
The new Foundry was put into production in July 1959.replacing the old Crookhall Foundry,and was situated at the south end of the old Plate Mill on a site previously occupied by the Soaking Pits for the old Cogging Mill.
It was built to supply the increasing demand for castings by the expanding Open Hearth Steel Plant. The metal ,mostly grey iron,was produced in two 15 tons/hour Cupola furnaces which worked in a similar way to a Blast Furnace,but using Pig Iron instead of Ore in the charge.
The Heavy Bay manufactured Pallet Plates also known as Bottom Plates ranging from 8 tons to 12 tons.
These were used in the Steel Plant as a foundation for the Ingot Mould to be placed on before teeming.In addition to Pallet Plates and Ingot moulds the foundry cast ladles for use in the Blast Furnaces and Steelplant weighing up to 13 tons.
The Light Bay produced Jobbing castings in weights of 1lb to 5 tons for maintenance of all departments within the Steelworks.It was also a good place to get your replacement fire grid for your home fire made!!!.
The foundry also had a small non-ferrous department where castings of up to 500lbs were made.
The foundry operated on a day shift bases and my main duties were temperature measurement during tapping the furnaces and teeming the castings,checking of incoming materials including sand and non ferrous metals along with general Quality Control of finished products.
Although I enjoyed all my training,my time at the Foundry was one the best placements I had,so much so that when I was transferred to the Plate Mill against my wishes I applied for and got a job at British Leyland Foundry in Coventry,but due to an industrial dispute at BL the job was put on hold and when I was reoffered the job ,circumstances had changed(something to do with with a member of the opposite sex !) and I stayed at Consett. ot a bad decision as it turned out!!!.
The Foundry was like a large family,almost separate from the main works,were everybody looked after you,but that didn,t stop pranks being played.
On one occasion I was working a Saturday shift overseeing the production of SG Iron in the non ferrous shop.In the break between casts I disappeared to the local betting shop to watch the Grand National promising to be back in time to add the required addition to the next cast.
Unfortunately I was late back and one of the Furnancemen had done my job for me,but found my protective clothing had disappeared.When I enquired where it was,they pointed upwards,and there was my gear on the hook of the “high flyer “crane. It was a strenuous and precarious climb up the vertical ladder to retrieve them – – LESSON LEARNT!!!
Also you were given responsibility and confidence to deal with senior managerment at a fairly young age.I was sent to present a cost saving report I had produced to Bill Hume ,a senior manager whose office was on the upstairs in the General Offices,I had hardly been in the offices never mind upstairs and found it a daunting experience,so much so that I tapped on his office door which was inches thick and when no one answered I returned very quickly to the Foundry telling my boss he wasn’t in.
A quick phone call confirmed he was in,and I was sent back and told to knock hard this time.I presented my report,Bill thanked me and assured me my recommendations would be implemented.
On return to the Foundry I was told never to worry about meeting Senior Managers,just remember they were once young nervous employees in their early career,something I remembered for the rest of my career.
Some years later I met Bill Hume socially and he asked me if I was still working at the Foundry,he probably remembered more about short meeting than I had!!!.
Just a couple of lifes lessons I learnt which helped me in the following years both pre and post closure.
Thanks to David Trout for agreeing for this to be shared
Train crash at Consett.In the winter of ( I think) 1959/1960 I photographed this scene of a train wreck at Consett’s Low yard where the interchange sidings between British Rail and Consett Iron Company were situated.
A load of coal trucks hauled by a Class Q6 freight loco lost breaking control on the incline between the site of the town’s former passenger station and the Low Yard and ran off the tracks on a curved embankment adjacent to the town’s engine sheds.
I can’t recall if there were any casualties. The locomotive, No. 63372 became the first of the 120 strong Q6 class to be scrapped.
picture taken by David Trout
picture taken by David Troutpicture by David Trout
If you can add any more details or have other pictures of this incident please comment or get in touch with the HCSW project team
We would like to ask for your help to add to the Gallery section of the site with any pictures you might have
We would of course credit you and the original photographer if known and if you can provide a little background like approx year taken, location and any memories about the scene/s that would be most welcome https://historyofconsettsteelworks.com/people/
Scanning of pictures can be arranged
Please comment or get in touch if you can help with pictures for the website
