The genesis project was formed after the closure of the steel works with one aim. 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. How consett steelworks closed with the loss of 4500 jobs in september, 1980 and how the site looks today. Federation of family history societies tips and links for family history. In the 1870s the production of steel became increasingly important, and the consett industries supplied steel for shipbuilding and the railway industry. The company was created in 1840 by mr johnathon richardson under the name of the derwent iron.
But there was intense competition in the 1970s from both local competitors on. Nov 12, 2016 the book is split into two main parts. Because im researching the shotley bridge swordmakers for my phd in english, my focus will be on part 1. 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. 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. Blackhill in the 1940s a nostalgic memory of blackhill. The company owned coal mines and limestone quarries, and manufactured iron and steel. It was denationalised shortly afterwards, then renationalised in 1967. Steel had dominated consetts economy for 140 years. Discover artworks, explore venues and meet artists. The population of consett according to the census was 36,017. Consett from steel to tortilla chips julian germain company photography steelworks.
Consett steel works 1980they closed the same year, with a loss of. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consett s product was seen as the best. Media in category consett steel works the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total. The film opens with long shots of consett steel works, the highest steel works in britain, set in the rural landscape. Mar 31, 2005 before the 1840s the area now known as consett was a wild, desolate space. 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. On this day 35 years ago, the town of consett in county durham was dealt a hammer blow when its giant steelworks closed.
Hodgson, discovered that the banks books were only balanced. Steel works photographs by julian germain childrens. In 1845 the railway asked their locomotive superintendent, richard peacock, to find a more suitable site for a locomotive and carriage and wagon works. Urban photographylandscape photographyarchitectural photographyeasington collieryfamily history bookhistory booksst johns college. A brief history, and description, of consett iron works, teesside, and. Cyndis list index of online genealogical resources.
Consett steelworks closed on this day in 1980 evening. The redcar plants history over the past 40 years has been tangled. Consett iron company catalogue item durham record office. 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. Here is a picture of consett before the demolition of the works.
Family history book, history books, durham city, st johns college, uk people, places in england. The consett iron company was the largest steel manufacturer in the world. Derwentside district council 1974 2009 catalogue item. At the industrys peak, in the 1960s, the works employed 6,000 people and the plant was. Minute book of the shareholders of the consett new town hall company ltd. Cokewashing and byproduct plants are erected at templetown and langley park colliery and new byproduct plant known as the fell coke works commenced. Ray tells me he was the last apprentice to be trained. The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county.
We love to publish locally sourced consett and county durham content from writers of all ages. Douglas vernon lived locally and worked at consett steel works for. Consett steel works closed the same year, with a loss of jobs. A contemporary description of the steel and iron manufacturing carried on at consett steelworks during the victorian era by jenkins, w isbn. Consett magazine focuses on inspiring, educational, and entertaining content.
Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, why not publishing, 1990. But there was intense competition in the 1970s from both local competitors on teesside and from abroad. History consett magazine consett news for consett by the. Despite these problems, by the 1860s the works became increasingly successful, with over 18 furnaces, as well as rolling mills, coke ovens and foundries. Consett, a town in considecumknitsley township and an ecclesiastical parish in durham.
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. Consett steel works, where many of my fathers family once worked. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. General view of the consett steel works showing trackways and overhead piping 4221569 framed, poster, canvas prints, puzzles, photo gifts and wall art. Several pubs have taken names that reflect the towns steel making past. It was taken back by the works in 1948, and the renamed side of consett a. Consett steel services limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. In the first half century of its history, the company always made a profit. Sep 16, 2003 the consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. Macgregor as british steel chairman to drive through its savage rationalisation programme and by. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Featuring over 200,000 oil paintings by some 38,000 artists. From their inception, the works and town have constantly changed due to industrial and commercial pressures and the need for improved housing. 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.
Consett steel services limited overview free company. See more ideas about old photos, local history and history. Page to celebrate the history of the consett steelworks work in progress content and pictures taken from a. 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. 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 beginning of consett iron company. People browse shops in the streets of consett town. The works provided the teams first ground the vicarage field, known locally as the vic. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen as the best in the world, good enough to rival anything. Before the 1840s the area now known as consett was a wild, desolate space. Consett magazine publishes positive local content about a town which sits high on the edge of the pennines in north east england, consett. 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. 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.
Buy consett iron works in 1893 by uk paperback online at lulu. The town lies at the terminus of the consett branch of the n. Following nationalisation in postwar britain, the company became part of the british steel corporation, employing 7,250 as late as 1970. 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. Consett steel works, county durham with images historic. Welcome to this, the 4th book in our consett series. Consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 1 of 3 youtube. The consett steel works provided jobs for 6,000 workers at its peak in the 1960s. 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. 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. 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. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of consett. Jul 23, 2012 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s nev t.
This in turn was the successor to the derwent iron company, founded in 1840. Consett iron lets look again a history of branded britain. Consett iron company project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. Family history book, history books, durham city, st johns college, uk people, places in england, north east england, childhood days, coal mining. The consett iron company ltd was an industrial business based in the consett area of county durham in the united kingdom.
A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett. History consett magazine consett news for consett by. A definitive history of shotley bridge and consett and. Consett talking points welcome to book number 5 in our consett series. The town was dominated by the steelworks until 1980 and the club enjoyed their patronage. Thatcher will be remembered for closing consett steelworks. State film sponsorship and rationalisation of the steel business failed to reverse the steady decline of the industry.
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. Shotley bridge hospital plans for consett steelworks site. Local history old photos steel vintage photos old photographs steel grades. It did not start making steel until 1881, but consetts product was seen. Ray tells me he was the last apprentice to be trained at consett, following his father into the works and. May 31, 2009 consett iron and steel works 1950s 1960s, part 2 of 3 duration. The derwent iron works, county durham, were established in 1840. The original workshops of the sheffield, ashtonunderlyne and manchester railway were in newton near hyde in cheshire but were inconveniently situated, cramped and makeshift. Unlike in the family snaps and in tommy harriss local press photos, germains subjects rarely look you in the eye. I was born at dixon street, blackfyne, blackhill, county durham. 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. Oct 27, 2015 the redcar plants history over the past 40 years has been tangled. The street signs steel street, bessemer street, tin mill place, and the smelters arms, castleside, pub sign document its steel industry origins.
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. Consett, from steel to tortilla chips, published in 1989 to accompany the exhibition of the same title. The consett iron company itself was nationalised in 1951, becoming part of the iron and steel corporation of great britain. Consett iron and steel works 18401980 derwent iron company in consett was founded in 1840 by jonathan to quarry and smelt ironstone. Art uk is the online home for every public collection in the uk. Towns like consett in county durham relied heavily on the steel works which were part of their cultural heritage.
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