Several pubs have taken names that reflect the towns steel making past. The film opens with long shots of consett steel works, the highest steel works in britain, set in the rural landscape. The federation of family history societies coordinates and assists the work of societies or other bodies interested in family history, genealogy and heraldry. 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. This in turn was the successor to the derwent iron company, founded in 1840. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town. Brassy colours conceal emptiness and would seem to urge temporary gratification. The site provides a county by county alphabetical list of family history societies in england and wales scotland has its own association.
I bought my first record in the record shop on middle street, around 1964. Featuring over 200,000 oil paintings by some 38,000 artists. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best in the world, good enough to rival anything produced in that other renowned steel town, sheffield. Consett county durham site details keys to the past. Consett iron company project gutenberg selfpublishing. Consett photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. 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. Consett magazine focuses on inspiring, educational, and entertaining content. The dust was actually airborne iron oxide from the steel making plant. Pdf atmospheric co2 sequestration in iron and steel slag. If we look at consett another north east town built on steel that suffered a closure twice the size of the potential one in redcar the answer has to be yes. See more ideas about old photos, local history and history.
In fact if you know anybody who would like to watch these videos but havent access to a computer or. We love to publish locally sourced consett and county durham content from writers of all ages. We went to the steel club on friday night after eating we had a great time in the club sat with the locals so friendly and warm people. Consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 2 of 3 duration. Consett steel works, where many of my fathers family once worked. Dec 02, 2009 if we look at consett another north east town built on steel that suffered a closure twice the size of the potential one in redcar the answer has to be yes. Although the focus is on one form, this is placed in the context of the economic changes which have taken place within the industry of the nation as a whole. Thatcher will be remembered for closing consett steelworks.
Funded and presented by the side gallery in newcastle, the project, by the englishborn photographer julian germain, was a study of consett in the north of england a town invented by four welltodo gentlemen of tyneside. Minute book of the shareholders of the consett new town hall company ltd. Or, to give the book its full name, thread of iron. From steel works, a collection of photos of consett in county durham, ed.
Buy consett iron works in 1893 by uk paperback online at lulu. Before the 1840s the area now known as consett was a wild, desolate space. A contemporary description of the steel and iron manufacturing carried on at consett steelworks during the victorian era by jenkins, w isbn. Federation of family history societies tips and links for family history research. The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county durham in the united kingdom. Jul 23, 2012 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s nev t. See more ideas about old photos, family history book and coal mining. Here is a picture of consett before the demolition of the works. People browse shops in the streets of consett town.
Iron and steel was produced at the site from 1840 until the plants closure in 1980, and a brief. The consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. At the industrys peak, in the 1960s, the works employed 6,000 people and the plant was. Consett magazine consett news for consett by the people. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, published in 1989 to accompany the exhibition of the same title.
Consett was built as a town around the steelworks when the derwent iron company was formed in. An ironworks was laid out, and the remains known as the blue heaps may have. The field site was the former iron and steel works at consett, county durham, u. This is not intended to be an exhaustive history of the company, but an indication of the changes of ownership and the links between companies and. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
Formed in 1944, the guild produced a variety of work that. Friday night is karaoke night some fantastic singers the price of drinks excellent so cheap if we are ever in consett again we will go back to. For this softback binding, the wraparound cover is actually comprised of a map of consett and the steelworks as it looked in 1893. Page to celebrate the history of the consett steelworks work in progress content and pictures taken from a. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best. State film sponsorship and rationalisation of the steel business failed to reverse the steady decline of the industry. The truth about thatcher and the steel industry the. Consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 1 of 3 youtube. Also beehive coke ovens at chopwell, and brickworks at garesfield and templetown. Steelmaking came to dominate industry in consett due to the abundance of the raw materials. 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.
The 650acre site has now been cleared and reclaimed, so that hardly any vestige remains of one of britains major. But there was intense competition in the 1970s from both local competitors on teesside and from abroad. Consett magazine consett news for consett by the people of. The consett iron company was absorbed into british steel in 1967 and the steel works closed in 1980 with the loss of around 3,500 jobs. My father was the blacksmith and had the blacksmiths shop in. Douglas vernon lived locally and worked at consett steel works for. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips germain, julian on. A brief history, and description, of consett iron works, teesside, and. A great pic of the former iron and steel works at consett, county durham, which began in 1840 and lasted for another 140 years, until closure in 1980. The interior of the book contains no less than 24 illustrations, mainly of consett and the steelworks as they looked at the time. British steel consett works was closed on 12th september 1980, with the loss of over 4,000 jobs, causing a 35%. Steel making dominated consett for 140 years from 1840, and the steelworks, employing 6000 workers in the 1960s, loomed over rows of terraced houses. Nearly 30 years ago, when consetts steel works closed for good, the future was almost too bleak to contemplate. Later, the consett iron company incorporated 1864 was nationalised in 1951 and became part of british steel in 1967, and renamed as consett steel works.
The works were renationalised in 1967 but throughout the following decade steel making suffered a significant decline and in 1980 the government closed the consett works with the loss of around 4,000 jobs which was a devastating blow for the town. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, why not publishing, 1990. Hodgson, discovered that the banks books were only balanced. May 31, 2009 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 2 of 3 duration. Jonathan richardson and a small group of entrepreneurs to lease ironstone in the district of consett, as well as several large. In the 1870s the production of steel became increasingly important, and the consett industries supplied steel for shipbuilding and the railway industry. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of consett. 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. Consett steel works was renationalised in 1967, this time by harold wilsons government, into the british steel corporation, at a time when iron, coal and shipbuilding were all in steady decline in britain. Derwentside district council 1974 2009 catalogue item. Jan 30, 20 the above description originates from the book, steel works. Cokewashing and byproduct plants are erected at templetown and langley park colliery and new byproduct plant known as the fell coke works commenced operations in january. Consett past and present i have broadened my horizons with this next video to take in our near neighbor and good friend consett please leave a comment and share with your family and friends.
A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett. How consett steelworks closed with the loss of 4500 jobs in september, 1980 and how the site looks today. History of consett visit consett in the 17th century, german swordmakers were settled at shotley bridge and the derwentcote steel furnace across the river from the trail at allensford dates to about 1730. 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. Despite these problems, by the 1860s the works became increasingly successful, with over 18 furnaces, as well as rolling mills, coke ovens and foundries. Local history old photos steel vintage photos old photographs steel grades. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best in the world, good enough to rival anything.
After fourteen weeks of strike action, the puddlers and millmen of consett iron works, who had recieved notice of a proposed reduction in wages of ten per cent on the previous wages they had been recieving, the strike is virtually said to be at an end. These were the three ingredients needed for blast furnaces to produce iron and steel the town is perched on the steep eastern bank of the river derwent and owes its. 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. Nearly 30 years ago, when consett s steel works closed for good, the future was almost too bleak to contemplate. 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. Mar 31, 2005 buy consett pocket images by derwentdale local history society isbn. A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett and. Consett iron and steel works 18401980 derwent iron company in consett was founded in 1840 by jonathan to quarry and smelt ironstone. The above description originates from the book, steel works. The company owned coal mines and limestone quarries, and manufactured iron and steel. At its peak in the 1960s consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000. The 650acre site has now been cleared and reclaimed, so that hardly any vestige remains of one of britains major inland steelworks, which employed over 7,000 as late as 1970. The history of the beginning of consett iron company.
Steel had dominated consetts economy for 140 years. Read and share your memories of consett itself or of a particular photo of consett. Consett iron company catalogue item durham record office. Art uk is the online home for every public collection in the uk. Until the 1840s consett or conside as it was then known was just a small village, and. Consett magazine publishes positive local content about a town which sits high on the edge of the pennines in north east england, consett. Steel works photographs by julian germain childrens. Buy products related to history of iron and steel industry products and see what customers say about history of iron and steel industry products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. It covers personalities from early labor and civil rights action in the area, and not just star football players and coaches. This book covers the interesting history of a town built for the steel industry, and aftermath during the slow decline and collapse of that industry. Funded and presented by the side gallery in newcastle, the project, by the englishborn photographer. Unlike in the family snaps and in tommy harriss local press photos, germains subjects rarely look you in the eye. Consett was built as a town around the steelworks when the derwent iron company was formed in 1841, following the discovery of iron ore deposits. Men of consett is a 1950s industrial documentary about the life and work of the steel community at consett iron company, county durham, produced by interfilm, part of the film producers guild fpg collective of documentary film companies in england, which evolved from the wartime role of merton park studios in south wimbledon, london.
The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county. Family history book, history books, durham city, st johns college, uk people, places in england, north east england, childhood days, coal mining. Consett grew as a thriving community around the plant after the derwent iron company was formed in 1841, following the discovery of iron ore deposits. Cyndis list index of online genealogical resources.
Steelmaking dominated consett for 140 years from 1840, and the steelworks, employing 6000 workers in the 1960s, loomed over rows of terraced houses. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. History 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. Sep 16, 2003 the consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. So a particularly poigniant reminder of a great industrial age past. Because im researching the shotley bridge swordmakers for my phd in english, my focus will be on part 1. An account of the 140year history of one of britains most distinguished iron and steel companies, consett iron co. At the industrys peak, in the 1960s, the works employed 6,000 people and the plant was nationalised as part of the british steel corporation. In the first half century of its history, the company always made a profit. Media in category consett steel works the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total.
Arnold, a grindermiller or baker has conekesheued in exchange for trillesdena for. Middle street, consett the consett iron company was established in 1864 as a successor to the original derwent iron company of 1840, when the first blast furnaces were introduced. 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. Discover artworks, explore venues and meet artists. 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.