tarboat's photos

Inside one of the communal huts at Snape Farm Prisoner of War camp, Weston.

No.2 controller in the control cabin on top of the gondola of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. There are two of these in this cabin although only one is needed to drive the bridge. A third example is in the motor house so that the bridge can be driven from there in case of breakdown. The bridge still uses DC power but it is likely to be converted to AC operation soon.

Following a rigorous tendering process the Government today announced that it had accepted the lowest price and unveiled the latest development in high capacity commuter trains. A spokesman said: 'It is regretted that fares will have to rise by 15% but customers can be assured of even greater comfort and reliabilty with the new Notwork Rail service'. Track maintenance gang transport passing South Bank cokeworks, Middlesbrough.

Found on the front wall of one of the lead/zinc processing works at Baiyin in Gansu Province, China. This style of heroic art has rather gone out of fashion in present day China, although some relics such as this can still be seen. The caption to this one states: 'Be a person who knows what he wants to do and he shall not be small-minded'. Another example from a copper mine in the Baiyin area can be seen here .

SY at work in the extensive yard at Baiyin Gongsi. The yellow sulphuric acid tanks are a necessary adjunct to the non-ferrous metal smelting operations in this area.

Brunswick mill was built c1872 when it was occupied by a number of cotton processing businesses. Following a disastrous fire in 1883 it was rebuilt and by 1890 was occupied by the Brunswick Mill Co Ltd (cotton spinners and doublers). In 1940 the sweet manufacturers Matlow Bros. Ltd and Swizzels Ltd moved to the mill from London to escape the blitz, and have continued to operate here ever since. In 1970 a major factory extension was added, and since 1975 they have traded as Swizzels-Matlow Ltd. The company is a major employer in the area and produces a wide range of sweets including Love Hearts and Parma Violets. Best viewed in original size.

Tapping molten iron into the torpedo wagons beneath the blast furnace for transfer to the steel plant at Redcar.

Not long left for the Redcar furnace that produces 10,000 tonnes of iron a day.

The terminus of the Wirral line of the Chester Canal is at Ellesmere Port where the paired Whitby Locks once led to the Mersey and now lead down to the Manchester Ship Canal. Currently home to the Boat Museum the site is well worth a visit. The locks can be seen to the right of this shot with the hydraulic enginehouse, boilerhouse and chimney left of centre. The island warehouse stands behind with the three hipped roof sections just visible.

Another scene already gone for ever. An empty spoil train begins the descent into the opencast mine at Jalainur having just made the first reversal. Until the conveyor was built from deep down in the pit, all coal trains also had to work right up here and two more levels above before taking the final run to the washery.

GEC Traction 6 wheel diesel-electric No.268 of 1977 hauls slab within the mill complex at Lackenby. This locomotive was once named Kirkleatham, but I couldn't discern any evidence of this now.

Gasholders adjacent to the coking plant and blast furnace at Redcar. Renown gives scale whilst making his own shot.

I made a sad trip to Teesside to say goodbye to the blast furnace and steel plant that are due to be mothballed (closed) by Corus by the end of January. The Redcar furnace and associated coke and chemical plant are seen here over the conglomeration comprising the encampment of the South Gare Fishermen's Huts Association.

Conveyor from the primary crusher at a disused limestone quarry.

When the Dinorwic quarries closed in 1969 the workers at this level left their coats hanging on the wall in the caban where they took their meal breaks. More than forty years later the remnants still hang there, occasionally nibbled by the feral goats that use the buildings for shelter. It is remarkable that these reminders of the hard working life on the high exposed levels have survived for so long.

The pink church at Hassall Green is a much loved corrugated iron gem.

An early frogless brick from this manufacturer The Cannon Street Brick Company operated from its central Hanley works during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It appears in trade directories for 1912 but not 1921.

The Cannon Street Brick Company operated from its central Hanley works during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It appears in trade directories for 1912 but not 1921.