Category Archives: Uncategorized

Backbarrow Ironworks

The surviving structures of Backbarrow Ironworks in South Lakeland have been described by Historic England as “the best illustration nationally of iron-smelting technology development from the early C18 to the C20”. The site has featured on the Heritage at Risk register for many years, and there have been a number of previous attempts to “save” it without success. Until now that is.

Under the supervision of Historic England work is underway to conserve the remains of the scheduled ancient monument – which include the furnace stack, hot air stoves and blowing engine – alongside work to develop the rest of the site for housing. Potentially dangerous sections have been fenced so, for example, no-one can wander inside the furnace stack.

The Backbarrow Ironworks Heritage Trust has been established to take over responsibility for the ironworks once development of the whole site is complete in 2020. Until then there is no public access to it. These photos have been taken by members of the Trust.

For the latest information, checkout their website.

Cockermouth Mills

All these photos were taken by Mike Davies-Shiel between 1969 and 1971, except that of the Tweed Mill being demolished c.1916.

To find out more about these mills and others in Cockermouth look out for The Watermills of Cockermouth leaflet, the Cockermouth Mill Trail, and the two booklets on Industry in the series Cockermouth in Pictures by Bernard Bradbury.

Workington Port

Most of the photos show the Prince of Wales Dock under construction in the 1920s.
Click here to find out more about Workington and other ports in Cumbria.

Warwick Bridge Corn Mill

The North of England Civic Trust have managed a project to conserve and repair the building and bring it back to life as a working mill. These photos were taken in July 2016 before the work began in earnest, except for emergency repairs to the drying kiln.

Click here to visit their website.
Click here to find out more about the mill.

West Coast Iron and Steel

Follow the links to find out more about the Iron and Steel Industry in Cumbria or to see more photos of the Derwent Works at Workington.

Derwent Iron & Steel Works

The Derwent Haematite Iron Co. cast pig iron in Workington for the first time in 1874, but was soon joined by the Dronfield Ironworks who re-located their steel making plant from near Sheffield. The combined plant was re-named Charles Cammell & Co. – Derwent Iron and Steel Works until 1903 when a merger of the parent company with Laird Brothers resulted in Cammell Laird and Co.,,

Most of these photos date from the early 1900s, except for the aerial views which date from the 1930s, and the drawing which is dated 1882.

Click here to find out more about the iron and steel industry in Cumbria.

Backbarrow Blue

Click here to find out more about the Blue Mill at Backbarrow.

( The bottom two rows of photos of workers at the mill were taken in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Thanks to Geoff Stebbens for these. All the other photos are from the Mike Davies-Shiel collection)

Duddon Furnace

These photos are taken from the Mike Davies-Shiel Collection. High resolution digital copies are available for most of them. Follow this link to find out more.

Click here to find out more about the iron and steel industry in Cumbria.

Limekilns

For more information about these kilns please visit the list on the limekilns page
And for other views of Cumbrian limekilns see www.brocross.com.

Gasworks 2006

Click here to find out more about gasworks in Cumbria