Richard Judd’s Story
As an outsider who moved to just outside Consett in 2014 I had no knowledge of what was the Consett Steelworks, or the “Works” as it is still referred to.
In the summer of 2015, I began to do parkrun at Blackhill and Consett park and often would walk along past McDonalds and then onto the “heaps” opposite the new housing and Tesco. At first glance, all the reminders of the industrial past in that area were just the odd information board (sadly vandalised) and some rusty buckets [the slag ladle] .
If only the ground could talk and tell the story of the many thousands who worked or supplied what was a massive industrial area, unfortunately, in many cases, losing their lives.
So began my wish to find out more and why I am delighted to be part of the History of the Consett Steelworks project to enable that history to be told, remembered and taught to the next generation – and also to “outsiders” like me.
Richard Judd, Chair of the History of Consett Steelworks group
History of Consett Steelworks 