Food Industry

Disused turntable at the Burra station on the former line from Adelaide. Rail services to Burra discontinued in 1985 and the line closed in 1988, although the rails remain in situ. The grain silos in the background remain in use with road transport.

Sadly the Woodman pub on the corner of Goodson Street and Old Hall Street, Hanley, is now closed and derelict. It appears to date from the late nineteenth century.

The Viterra grain silos at the port of Wallaroo on the Spencer Gulf are connected to the jetty by conveyors and can load ships with wheat or barley at 600 tonnes per hour.

An interesting mixture of old and new. Nelstrop's Flour Mill at Stockport continues to flourish.

Grain silo, Westport, County Mayo.

Grain silo, Westport, County Mayo.

It is always worth a look over the parapet at Frodsham Bridge as there is a god chance of seeing the barge Panary lying at Frodsham Wharf loaded with grain. This is the last commercial traffic on the Weaver.

Most of Fairclough's Mill alongside the Mersey in Warrington has been demolished but this grain silo remains as it carries a range of telecommunications aerials and transmitters. The 'Pink Eye' mural is the work of local artist Anthony Turk, but only after a long battle with the local planning authorities who claimed it would distract drivers. Access is via the Littons Mill level crossing seen at lower left.

Odlum's Sallins oatmeal mill is situated part way up the Naas branch of the Grand Canal in Country Kildare. The corrugated iron clad structure once provided cover and storage for grain being unloaded from barges. William Odlum opened his first flour mill in 1845 and subsequently his two sons, William P. and Richard Odlum established the company W.P. & R. Odlum. In the early 20th century, the company operated as many as nine mills but consolidation reduced that number to the three flour mills in Dublin, Cork, and Portarlington and an oatmeal mill in Naas. The company remained in family hands until 1988 and is now owned by Origin Enterprises. The Sallins mill was closed in 2008.

Morning departure from Mode Wheel locks on the Manchester Ship Canal. The Allied Mills in the background produce flour for a wide range of bread manufacturers in the north of England.

These reinforced concrete silos adjacent to the Scheldt at Tournai were originally built to hold locally produced cement. The first four were constructed in 1922 and the second four during World War II. After the cement works closed they were converted for grain storage, but are currently empty and derelict.

The grain silos at berth 27 of the inner harbour at Port Adelaide can supply wheat and barley to the ship loaders at up to 700 tonnes per hour. Viterra also has a newer deep water terminal in the outer harbour.

Viterra owned grain silos at Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. The maximum loading capacity under the spouts is 800 tonnes per hour.

Home of some of my favourite beers is Robinson's Unicorn Brewery in Stockport.

The long disused Royal Oak Brewery in Stockport is now being demolished. Established in a former cotton mill the site has been a local landmark which I shall miss when it has gone.

A fine copper at the Robinson's brewery in Stockport. This is now rather thin and will be replaced soon.

I have always greatly enjoyed the beer produced by Robinson's at Stockport and it was a treat to be able to see it being brewed whilst visiting the site. This is a vat of Double Drop being drawn down into a tanker for transport to the filling plant at Bredbury where it will be put in casks. The surface of the beer is covered in a thick layer of yeast.

A peek into Mush Tun No.1 at the Robinson's brewery in Stockport. These people brew seriously good beer. View On Black