Friday 24 July 2015

Callis Mill, Charlestown, West Yorkshire

History

Much of the original mill has been demolished, but some of the weaving sheds remain. It started out as a cotton mill with spinning and weaving sheds. It was by far the largest Mill in Charlestown.
In 1861 it was owned by the Lacey brothers. The Laceys were famous locally for refusing to pay rates to the Sowerby township, demanding to pay the township of Erringden. In 1876, this resulted in the seizure of goods for constables rates.
 
In 1926 it became Cords Ltd, owned by Messrs Shepherd and Tattersall. Ted Tattersall had mills at Pecket well, above Hebden Bridge, Rochdale and Staleybridge as well as being a director of the Rochdale canal. He travelled on horseback until the late 1920s when he got a new Bentley every year. Mr Shepherd patented a cotton tyre fabric using the best Egyptian cotton which the mill manufactured.
 
The process prevented blowouts and allowed the first tubeless tyres to be made. Customers included Dunlop, Pirelli and Avon and tyres for aeroplanes Cotton process started at the top of the mill going down on a slant to eliminate knots. The cotton was cabled to 12 to 16 ply for ordinary tyres and up to 18 for heavy duty tyres (26lb breaking strain). Cotton was later replaced by silk and rayon. Weaving was in the shed using 72" Reed looms .
Jack Buxton seems to have been a hands on manager and the mill employed about 50 people, mainly from Todmorden, Hebden bridge and Blackshawhead. They worked two 12 hour shifts starting at 6.45 am.

The spinning mules were operated by men. The firm introduced different types of worker wearing different coloured overalls. This was to identify workers who had wandered from their own section.

Eventually the owners fell out, and Tattersall brought his own men into the mill some of whom were said to be useless. The business finished in 1971 due to the development of steel tyre innards and the site was bought by John Brights (who reputedly only wanted the order book).
 
From 1972, the mill was used by Brytmet which made aluminium products. they closed due to "high labour turnover". in 1976, the mill was bought by developers who knocked down the main mill to create a car park. All that remains standing is the weaving sheds that are used by the canal company and the dye house which was recently used by a German owned chemical company called Aquaspersions and is now empty.
 
Source:
 
There is much more history on Hebden Bridge and its industrial past also featured on the website above.
 
All photographs available as prints or canvas with or without the border. Message for sizes/ prices.
 
Esoteric Eric
 







 


Walkleys Clog Mill, Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire

History

Walkley Clogs is a clog factory where the great British clog is manufactured in its entirety. The company was started by Frank Walkley in 1946. The main styles manufactured at that time were the Safety boot clog, Derby, Gibson and the Bar clog. With slipon styles being produced much later. In 1978 Frank Walkley bought out the famous Maude clog sole works in Hebden Bridge, a company that at its hey day had over 100 employees that turned nothing but clog soles! Walkey Clogs still uses the old machines for turning the wooden clog soles, and manufacturing the irons. The clog making skills used are those skills that have been passed down from generations of Walkley Clogs clog makers.

Walkley Clogs is proud to keep the old traditional styles and over the years has manufactured many more styles that fit in with today’s markets. Most years Walkley Clogs are seen on the cat walks, and every year work with budding fashion designers who always have their own ideas on clog design. Today Walkley clogs manufactures a wide range of styles of clogs which include wooden sandals and slip-ons and various types of boots and shoes in a good selection of colours. The uppers used are mainly leather but also a non leather clog can be manufactured if required. The company also produces a lovely range of children’s clogs styles and supplies clog dance teams in the UK with dancing clogs. Walkley clogs produces 40 styles plus and offers to make up custom made clogs in any style and any colour. 
 
There was a fire here in 1990 but it didn't totally destroy the mill and it appears afterwards some areas were made in to something of museum of strange attractions and children's play area perhaps to attempt to draw in more custom but all of which wouldn't look out of place in something with Willy Wonka! Eventually Walkley relocated and continue to make clogs in Mytholmroyd.
 
Source:
http://www.clogs.co.uk/history.htm
 
All photographs are available as prints or canvas with or without the border. Message for sizes/ prices.
 
Esoteric Eric























 

Friday 17 July 2015

W.W. Laycock & Sons, Sheffield

History

W.W. Laycock & Sons Limited is yet another relic of Sheffield's declining steel and metal industry. Specifically, Laycock & Sons were silversmiths, manufacturers of 'bias buffs' and suppliers to the metal finishing trade; producing a range of items from cutlery and flasks to polishing mops and buffing wheels. To date, some evidence of the past and a number of the workbenches still remain throughout the buildings. Originally W.W. Laycock & Sons Limited occupied only half the premises, however, following expansion in later years, they subsequently acquired and occupied the entire site. The specific date of closure is currently unknown.
 
Source:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/w-w-laycock-sons-limited-silversmiths-sheffield-june-2014.t90272

It appears that permission has been given to turn the site in to apartments, retaining the frontage of the original building:

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/education/flats-scheme-for-eyesore-site-1-6910543

but there has been some concern over noise levels from a nearby factory for potential residents of the new apartments:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/business-news/concerns-over-sheffield-steel-firm-s-noise-if-flats-built-1-7136665
 
All photographs are available as prints or canvas with or without the border. Message for sizes/ prices.
 
Esoteric Eric


















St. Judes Church, Sheffield

History

St Jude's Moorfields Church School was completed in 1858 and was to serve one of the slum parishes in Sheffield, after a while it became St. Judes Anglican Church. In 1980 it became the Assembly of God-Pentecostal Church, it closed in 1999.

Source:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/st-judes-church-sheffield-october-2013.t84636#post-986901

All photographs are available as prints or canvas with or without the border. Message for sizes/ prices.

Esoteric Eric