tarboat's photos

Terracotta sign at the former Harrod's Depository, Draycott Ave, London.

Headgear on the disused Huangmen colliery at Yinghaomeikuang on the Yinghao Coal Railway in central China.

A nice bit of terracotta on the front of the former Urban District Council offices in Sandbach.

B1 passing the box at the end of the Damems loop on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway during a 30742 Charters photoshoot.

Materials storage at the Hanson (Heidelberg) cement works at Clitheroe. I think that this is for cement clinker.

Yesterday was a trip to the Minninglow area. Here are the two big stone embankments of the Cromford & High Peak Railway taken from the slopes of Minninglow Hill itself. The trees and spoil just left of centre above the embankment mark a deep quarry from which silica rich materials were extracted and carried by tramway to a brickworks just off the left end. This manufactured a range of refractory bricks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A stitch of three images and best viewed large.

This intermittent earthen kiln lies south of Grin Low Road, Buxton. The limestone for the kiln was quarried from the outcrops just behind.

This art deco shop in Crewe was formerly Woolworths. The current occupier seems to have the better business model.

In 1841 this limekiln stood between two fish cellars and was known as Cornishes. At that time it was owned by Mark Guy and operated by Theophilus Phillips. This kiln probably operated until the early 20th century. There was another kiln across the lane from this one but it has entirely disappeared.

Empty biomass hoppers from Drax head away from Barnetby a short time before the semaphore signalling was replaced at this Lincolnshire station.

Looking up inside the pot of the draw kiln at Rocknell, Westleigh, Devon. This was a commercial draw kiln supplying lime for sale over a wide area.

Although it has seen significant rationalisation, Bolton Station is still an architectural gem with its polychromatic salt-glazed brickwork and also the survival of many etched glass windows. I don't think any first class gentlemen ever wait behind that door these days.

A pair of JS class locomotives bring the empty wagons from the China Rail interchange at Liushuguan to the opencast and deep mines at Sandaoling. It's not a place where you expect to see trees!

Thomas Clayton's Spey out and about on the Trent & Mersey Canal above Malkin's Bank after repairs on the drydock at Middlewich.

Yesterday saw the first public running of the replica Newcomen Engine at the Anson Museum in Poynton. It is very convincing and whilst actually powered by an electric motor the up and down strokes are cleverly arranged to have different speeds. Steam from the top of the cylinder is tapped from the exhaust of the other engines when in use. It does actually raise water from the "pit" too. The museum is well worth a visit and is run by enthusiasts rather than museums types.

This shows why wooden boats and museums don't often have a happy ending. I have so many memories of this boat from evenings spent in the back cabin drinking tea, to the days when it was named Chief and kept at Styperson Wharf by the 1st Hazel Grove Scouts. It was saved from Styperson by James Hewitt for an abortive attempt to add a butty to his trip boat business. After surviving for so long it is heartbreaking to see what has happened once it arrived at a museum.

Last night I took part in a riot in Macclesfield. The photo shows shopkeeper Rowson being pelted with potaoes whilst remonstrating with the crowd. The mob rampaged through the town looting shops and throwing potatoes at anyone who dared oppose them. The mayhem was only ended when the authorities brought in mounted troops to disperse the crowds under the blades of their swords. Afterwards we all returned to the market square for a potato feast and performances by two great bands! Community art at its best and an excellent recreation of the riot that took place in the town in 1812.

A single draw kiln in good condition on Waterhead Creek across the Kingsbridge estuary from Salcombe.