Consett steel works history books

State film sponsorship and rationalisation of the steel business failed to reverse the steady decline of the industry. In the first half century of its history, the company always made a profit. Family history book, history books, durham city, st johns college, uk people, places in england, north east england, childhood days, coal mining. The original workshops of the sheffield, ashtonunderlyne and manchester railway were in newton near hyde in cheshire but were inconveniently situated, cramped and makeshift. Many steel workers had been on strike shortly before the closure in what was at the time the largest strike in british history since the second world war and would remain so until the miners strike later that decade. Before the 1840s the area now known as consett was a wild, desolate space.

The derwent iron works, county durham, were established in 1840. The works provided the teams first ground the vicarage field, known locally as the vic. Steel had dominated consetts economy for 140 years. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, published in 1989 to accompany the exhibition of the same title. Featuring over 200,000 oil paintings by some 38,000 artists. Macgregor as british steel chairman to drive through its savage rationalisation programme and by. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen. Here is a picture of consett before the demolition of the works. At the industrys peak, in the 1960s, the works employed 6,000 people and the plant was.

Welcome to this, the 4th book in our consett series. By 1893 the consett iron company owned ten collieries, seven blast furnaces, steel melting shops, plate and angle mills,a foundry, brickworks and engineering works. Several pubs have taken names that reflect the towns steel making past. The explosive development which resulted from the formation of the derwent iron company at this time created a company town in the truest sense, with the lives of approximately 14,000 workers and teir dependents dominated by iron, coal and later, steel. Discover artworks, explore venues and meet artists. Despite these problems, by the 1860s the works became increasingly successful, with over 18 furnaces, as well as rolling mills, coke ovens and foundries.

People browse shops in the streets of consett town. Consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 1 of 3 youtube. It was taken back by the works in 1948, and the renamed side of consett a. Because im researching the shotley bridge swordmakers for my phd in english, my focus will be on part 1. Towns like consett in county durham relied heavily on the steel works which were part of their cultural heritage. General view of the consett steel works showing trackways and overhead piping 4221569 framed, poster, canvas prints, puzzles, photo gifts and wall art. Consett magazine focuses on inspiring, educational, and entertaining content. A brief history, and description, of consett iron works, teesside, and. The population of consett according to the census was 36,017. Mar 11, 2008 consett steel works was due to close in 1980 and with some 3,700 jobs on the line, it was a bleak future for consett. My memories are from when i started school in 1943 at the tin mill school, derwent street, blackhill, as far as i remmember i did not like it.

Consett steel services limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. Shotley bridge hospital plans for consett steelworks site. The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county durham in the united kingdom. In 1845 the railway asked their locomotive superintendent, richard peacock, to find a more suitable site for a locomotive and carriage and wagon works. Consett steel works, county durham family history book history books life pictures life pics easington colliery salt of the earth north east england londonderry city of angels easington colliery photographed by allinsons photography during demolition. Blackhill was shadowed by consett iron company as it was then known later known as consett steel works, most of the men worked there. On september 1980 the legendary iron and steel works at consett closed, despite making a profit that year, and left a devastating third of the town out of work. Registered april 4, 1864, and owns the chopwell, garesfield, langley park, victory, and other collieries in the county of durham, limestone quarries near stanhope acquired in 1900, and iron and steel works at consett. The company was created in 1840 by mr johnathon richardson under the name of the derwent iron. Consett talking points welcome to book number 5 in our consett series. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. The film opens with long shots of consett steel works, the highest steel works in britain, set in the rural landscape. Consett steel works was due to close in 1980 and with some 3,700 jobs on the line, it was a bleak future for consett. The genesis project was formed after the closure of the steel works with one aim.

Family history book, history books, durham city, st johns college, uk people, places in england. Consett steel works, where many of my fathers family once worked. Urban photographylandscape photographyarchitectural photographyeasington collieryfamily history bookhistory booksst johns college. Media in category consett steel works the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total. Jul 23, 2012 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s nev t. A contemporary description of the steel and iron manufacturing carried on at consett steelworks during the victorian era by jenkins, w isbn. The history of the beginning of consett iron company. Douglas vernon lived locally and worked at consett steel works for. Art uk is the online home for every public collection in the uk. Consett iron and steel works 18401980 derwent iron company in consett was founded in 1840 by jonathan to quarry and smelt ironstone. Today, there is no sign of the decades of heavy industry that took place on the site, and instead there is a tesco extra store.

Hodgson, discovered that the banks books were only balanced. But there was intense competition in the 1970s from both local competitors on teesside and from abroad. Consett magazine publishes positive local content about a town which sits high on the edge of the pennines in north east england, consett. Derwentside district council 1974 2009 catalogue item.

Consett steel works 1980they closed the same year, with a loss of. I was born at dixon street, blackfyne, blackhill, county durham. Cyndis list index of online genealogical resources. Consett iron company catalogue item durham record office. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consett s product was seen as the best in the world, good enough to rival anything. Consett, a town in considecumknitsley township and an ecclesiastical parish in durham. Federation of family history societies tips and links for family history. See more ideas about old photos, local history and history.

Consett photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. About 3,500 jobs were lost when the consett s former steel works shut down in 1980, but the proposals mark the latest stage of the regeneration of the site. Nov 12, 2016 the book is split into two main parts. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, why not publishing, 1990. The consett iron company itself was nationalised in 1951, becoming part of the iron and steel corporation of great britain. Consett steel works, county durham with images historic.

But there was intense competition in the 1970s from both local competitors on. Minute book of the shareholders of the consett new town hall company ltd. Steel works photographs by julian germain childrens. We love to publish locally sourced consett and county durham content from writers of all ages. Local history old photos steel vintage photos old photographs steel grades. Consett from steel to tortilla chips julian germain company photography steelworks. An iron and steelworks was established in consett in 1864 by the consett iron company limited and over the next 100 years consett became one of the worlds most prominent steel making towns. The town lies at the terminus of the consett branch of the n. Thatcher will be remembered for closing consett steelworks. Blackhill in the 1940s a nostalgic memory of blackhill. The consett iron company was the largest steel manufacturer in the world. The redcar plants history over the past 40 years has been tangled. The town was dominated by the steelworks until 1980 and the club enjoyed their patronage.

Consett steelworks closed on this day in 1980 evening. In the 1870s the production of steel became increasingly important, and the consett industries supplied steel for shipbuilding and the railway industry. Sep 16, 2003 the consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. Consett steel services limited overview free company. The street signs steel street, bessemer street, tin mill place, and the smelters arms, castleside, pub sign document its steel industry origins. After the best local ironstone was depleted the stockton and darlington railway and other local railways were extended to transport ironstone from cleveland to the works. The history of the consett iron company chapter one the iron works first twenty four years in operation 1841 to 1865 an early sketch showing the blast furnaces of consett iron company.

Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of consett. Mar 31, 2005 before the 1840s the area now known as consett was a wild, desolate space. The company owned coal mines and limestone quarries, and manufactured iron and steel. Buy consett iron works in 1893 by uk paperback online at lulu. The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county. Cokewashing and byproduct plants are erected at templetown and langley park colliery and new byproduct plant known as the fell coke works commenced. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best in the world, good enough to rival anything.

From their inception, the works and town have constantly changed due to industrial and commercial pressures and the need for improved housing. History consett magazine consett news for consett by. On this day 35 years ago, the town of consett in county durham was dealt a hammer blow when its giant steelworks closed. This in turn was the successor to the derwent iron company, founded in 1840.

By developing the redundant land, the trust has totally changed the landscape, facilitated over 150 million pounds worth of development and created hundreds of jobs for local people. The works were the largest in england by 1860, with eleven blast furnaces on a site of over 70 acres and a workforce of nearly 4,000 men and boys. History consett magazine consett news for consett by the. From consett s bygone days as a steel town with a strong reliance on rail, next to where the main railway station used to be, is a club named the station club, now opposite a health centre. Unlike in the family snaps and in tommy harriss local press photos, germains subjects rarely look you in the eye. Consett steel works closed the same year, with a loss of jobs. The consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. Consett iron lets look again a history of branded britain.

Oct 27, 2015 the redcar plants history over the past 40 years has been tangled. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consett s product was seen as the best. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett. It was denationalised shortly afterwards, then renationalised in 1967. Ray tells me he was the last apprentice to be trained. Page to celebrate the history of the consett steelworks work in progress content and pictures taken from a. How consett steelworks closed with the loss of 4500 jobs in september, 1980 and how the site looks today. Following nationalisation in postwar britain, the company became part of the british steel corporation, employing 7,250 as late as 1970. Ray tells me he was the last apprentice to be trained at consett, following his father into the works and. Consett iron company project gutenberg selfpublishing. May 31, 2009 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 2 of 3 duration. Or, to give the book its full name, thread of iron.

It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best. Brassy colours conceal emptiness and would seem to urge temporary gratification. A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett and. The explosive development which resulted from the formation of the derwent iron company at this time created a company town in the truest sense, with the lives of approximately 14,000 workers and their dependents dominated by iron, coal and, later, steel.