tarboat's photos

The Air Ministry sometimes specified a pillbox with all-round field of fire for the defence of airfields and this resulted in the F.C. Construction type which, inevitably, became known as the Mushroom. This is one of two examples at Cark Airfield, Flookburgh.

Seen alongside the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Bootle.

The Groverake Mine, Rookhope, Weardale, Durham, began life as a lead mine but became a major producer of fluorspar in the second half of the twentieth century. After several years of financial problems the mine finally closed in 1999, unable to compete with low Chinese prices.

Products and equipment illustrated on the frontage of the offices at Florange steelworks.

Sutton Weaver swing bridge on the Weaver Navigation. Completed in 1926 and much neglected and rusty of late. It is now undergoing a major refurbishment.

The land to the west and north of Buxton is dotted with old intermittent earthen limekilns that were operated on a commercial scale in the eighteenth century and possibly into the early years of the nineteenth century. This one sits south of Thirkellow Rocks, a short distance from the High Edge Raceway.

If you want to see stone faced, open-topped running kilns in action then China is the place to be. This bank of large limekilns at Nanpiao show how the commercial kiln sites in places such as Harpur Hill near Buxton must have looked when operating.

The bee orchid is a spectacular flower and there were plenty on the Derbyshire hillside that I visited. I understand that this is quite a scarce plant nationally.

The Silk Kite pub is housed in a remarkable building that was constructed in 1936 by by Colonel D'Arcy-Chayton, who owned Pooley Hall Colliery and established the Tamworth and District Electric Supply Company (TADESCO) in the early 1920s. It was intended for use as offices and as a showroom for TADESCO and was particularly notable for a 45ft clock tower. Sadly the tower was reduced by two thirds by the East Midlands Electricity Board in 1976. The clock was relocated in a lower position.

Victoria Mill in Miles Platting stands alongside the Rochdale Canal. It was built between 1869 and 1873 to the design of Bolton architect George Woodhouse. The owner was William Holland who moved his business there from Adelphi Mill in Salford. It comprises two symmetrical six-storey cotton spinning mills separated by an engine house and a chimney that rises from a stair tower. After standing empty for a while this Grade II* listed building has now been renovated mainly for office, apartments and an adult learning centre.

Past times recalled on the frontage of this Todmorden cafe. Of course, being Todmorden, it was raining.

This corrugated iron building at Calver has been empty for around twenty years but is now undergoing refurbishment.

Interior of the corrugated iron building at Calver.

Company emblem on the Maximus Crushing & Screening stand at Hillhead Quarry Exhibition. Maximus Crushing & Screening are an independent, global manufacturer and distributor of mobile crushing & screening equipment. They manufacture and supply a wide range of mobile crushers and screeners for use in a wide range of applications.

The Furness Brick & Tile Co Ltd has been established for over 145 years and remains a family owned business. The works can manufacture a vast range of standard and bespoke bricks to order. The transverse arch continuous kiln is still fired with coal and this is the scene on the kiln top.

Re-use of the old shop name in Leek. The business just left up the name that was discovered behind a later facia. The original grocery business traded under this name from 1883 to 1961.

Another memory of the much loved Jitong Railway when it was still entirely steam operated over the Jinpeng section. The morning light was always wonderful in the mountains and here QJ 6773 and 7049 are making steady progress towards Simingyi with an eastbound freight.

Strongpoint close to Landguard Point, Felixstowe, overlooking the entrance to the Orwell and approaches to Harwich. The batteries in this area never fired on enemy vessels during WWII, but the anti-aircraft defences were kept very busy.