tarboat's photos

J & A Jackson Ltd was formed through the amalgamation of the businesses of two established brickmaking familes in the Manchester area. The Harrisons had four works around Stockport, whilst the Jacksons operated from three works in Chorlton, Longsight, and Levenshulme. Over the next fifty years the company expanded with the acquisition of works across the north-west and into the west midlands. In 1973 Christian Salvesen acquired the business and in 1995 a management buyout of the brick side of the business saw the formation of Chelwood Brick. The company continues to operate from the works at Adswood Road in Cheadle.

Out in the murk the afternoon passenger service heads back north towards Dalu Mine on the Hegang Coal Railway. The train locomotive is easily identified as SY 1498 due to the polished boiler bands. The winding tower of one of the many local collieries is seen beyond the distant ridge.

Established in 1906 by Walter Thomas Knowles, this brickworks at Elland continues to manufacture drainage pipes and chimneypots using downdraught behive kilns. Today W T Knowles and Sons Ltd is one of only three such manufacturers left in Britain.

First train of the recent specials up to Caldon Low as the locomotive has just crossed the road at Apesford.

Old over new on the Yinghao Coal Railway.

Christmas Day 2010 saw the Bollin frozen to the maximum extent for the winter. It was certainly a cold spell and I don't suppose we shall see anything like this for the next few years.

The initials of the Oldham Brewery Company and the building date incorporated in the fine terracotta work over the main entrance to the Greaves Arms on Yorkshire Street in Oldham.

Deflector fitted yard pilot SY 1416 pushes a couple of loaded coal wagons up the bank from the Jalainur washery to an industrial siding a short distance away. Unlike the loco crew, the shunter perched on a wagon has to brave the extreme cold.

Opened in 1843 the Bentley Canal ran down a flight of 10 locks from the junction with the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Wednesfield for a distance of nearly three and a half miles to its junction with the Anson Branch. The section from the bottom of the six Wednesfield Locks to the Anson Branch was closed in 1960. The rest remained open but in reality became unusable very quickly due to lack of maintenance and removal of paddlegear. A few intrepid boaters forced a passage in the early 1970s and then it was abandoned and filled in. This view from April 1984 shows the top lock before infilling commenced. It looks usable, but in reality the canal behind me is drained and full of rubbish. Today the scene is virtually unrecognisable with industrial units built on the canal line.

The gleaning gang take a break as C2 06 awaits departure from unloading shed at Yinghao for a run to the mine at Liangjiawajing.

Part of the extensive chemical complex at Wilton viewed from the railway bridge at Coatham.

Ram Mill in Chadderton was built in 1907 for the Ram Spinning Co Ltd. The design was by Stott & Sons to allow extension as a double mill in future, although this never happened. It closed temporarily in 1931 and reopened in 1934. Hagues Textiles took over after WWII and production ended in 1971. The building is now in multiple occupation as Ram Mill Business Park. The terracotta and yellow brickwork is by Dennis of Ruabon whilst the red brick is from the Rochdale Brick Co Ltd.

A product of James Downing's, Defiance Brickyard, Chesterton. This brick can be seen in the comprehensive displays about the North Staffordshire brick industry at the Apedale Heritage Centre

I believe that this brick was produced in a brickyard at Hanford, Stoke-on-Trent. It is an early example and I presume that Robinson subsequently went into partnership with Wilson as they are listed there between 1873 and 1879. By 1884 the business was operating as Rawlings and Wilson. This brick can be seen in the comprehensive displays about the North Staffordshire brick industry at the Apedale Heritage Centre

S Beardsley & Son operated a brickworks at Ilkeston in the later 1890s. The trade directories give an address at 2 St Mary Street, but this appears to be residential. A look at the map suggests that the brickworks was situated just north of the houses in Mill St, adjacent to the Erewash Canal. This brick can be seen in the displays at the Apedale Heritage Centre

Pulling away from Apesford Crossing with a morning train as a local kestrel takes to the air in surprise.

Another long lost manufacturer of aerial ropeways. Mitchell Ropeways Ltd advert from the 1948 Colliery Year Book. This shows that they also made blondins/cableways.

A reminder of last Autumn's steam gala on the Caldon Low line. For me this loco was the star performer.