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Morning sun rays above the White House of Essendon.
Photographed through the fence, a WT Nicholls access cover in the factory yard.
There is reference in a 1937 document to WT Nicholls of Gloucester being awarded Air Ministry contracts. As an inducement, foundries would offer free casting of contractors' names on covers.
The Pine End Works was built in 1940 and was one of the government's "shadow factories" designed to keep production going when more vulnerable factories elsewhere were damaged or destroyed by enemy action.
Pine End's task was the production of plywood components for aircraft and marine use. Parts for the famous De Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber and the Horsa troop carrying glider were manufactured here. For security purposes it was named "Factories Direction Ltd", a name which persisted for many years after the war even when it had been taken over by William Mallison and Sons Ltd. and Gliksten Plywood Limited. Later the name was changed to "Mallison-Denny (Lydney) Limited. The Lydney Docks were used for the importation of timber for the works until the 1970s. The factory closed down around 2001 and is in a sorry state now, and has been sold off for redevelopment.
A pair of Hayward Brothers coal hole covers.
The Hayward Brothers of London bought out R Henly, manufacturer of int. al. coal hole covers in 1848. They are also well known for their prismatic lensed cellar skylights set in pavements (of which there were several along High Street). They ceased trading in the 1970s. Until 1916, they were marked "Hayward Brothers", after this just "Haywards Limited".
I was rather taken aback to find this Thames Water stop tap cover in the road in Carmarthen, whose water supplier is Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru).
Another example of large cast iron gates in the town, here Furnace House, now the town library.
Furnace House was built c. 1760 for Robert Morgan who established the Carmarthen Furnace in 1748. The gates are marked on one post “M Busteed Fecit 1761” (Made by M Busteed 1761) and were said to have been made in Morgan’s foundry, but it is suggested at least some of the ironwork was produced in London. The house has been used as judges’ lodgings, a YMCA, and in 1972 was turned into the public library with only the facade, forecourt and gate & railings retained.
Another example of large cast iron gates in the town, here Furnace House, now the town library.
Furnace House was built c. 1760 for Robert Morgan who established the Carmarthen Furnace in 1748. The gates are marked on one post “M Busteed Fecit 1761” (Made by M Busteed 1761) and were said to have been made in Morgan’s foundry, but it is suggested at least some of the ironwork was produced in London. The house has been used as judges’ lodgings, a YMCA, and in 1972 was turned into the public library with only the facade, forecourt and gate & railings retained.
After hours of renovation we now have an Albion Press
Cheltenham, Post Office Lane - cast iron street sign
