Tuesday 16 March 2021

Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Made by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd in 1870

Trent Bridge is a Grade II listed road bridge over the River Trent in West Bridgford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.

It carries London Road (A60) over the river Trent, the bridge was started September 14th 1868 and completed 1871. It was built by Andrew Handyside & Co of Derby, famous for their bridges and fountains in their hayday. All the stonework of the bridge was by Benton and Woodiwiss of Derby who built Bennerley Viaduct. The bridge has three spans each of 100 feet with the stone arches of the approaches on either side, a total length of 700 feet. The road deck of the bridge stands 27 foot above the summer level of the river Trent.

Watch my video here :



Here is a 360 photograph I took inside the pedestrian tunnel and you can clearly see the different brickwork of the extended half :


In 1926 the Bridge was widened from 40ft to 80ft. Design by Mott, Hay and Anderson and the city engineer T. Wallis Gordon contractors for the project were Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Co. You can clearly where it was widened by looking underneath the spans such as at 3.24 On the left is the original 1869 construction, on the right is the newer part built 57 years later.

Here is a photograph of the underside of one of the spans, the half nearest the camera is the original 1969 bridge and the other half is the 1926 construction.

Trent Bridge, Nottingham.


The total ironwork in this bridge is 868 tons! The nearby Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Trent Bridge stadium was named after this bridge. At 2.47 I have shown a illustration of the bridge from my 1873 catalogue by A.Handyside and I have faded it into my 2018 photo from the same vantage point so you can see how its changed. Notice the round floodlights of Trent Bridge Cricket club appear. The bridge has six lamp standards, each in the centre of the three spans on both sides. Aside from the bridge there are 15 lamp standards on brick pillars inlayed with decorative tiles, these are located on the approach to the bridge in a wedge shaped bit of land between Arkright Street and London Road. In my 1873 guide it says "The lamp standards for lighting the approaches are dwarf columns fixed upon stone pillars. All the lamps are globes in one piece of glass, with copper finials and mountings, and supplied with gas in the usual manner."

Here is a photograph I took of one of them, I would say those bases are not the original ones ! Maybe these lamps used to be closer to the approach of the bridge but they were all moved back here at some point, any one know ?

Trent Bridge, Nottingham.



It has four carved stone refuges above the piers either side of the centre span, these are recesses along the parapet where pedestrians can come out of the way of traffic, This is normally a feature of 16th Century bridges. At 0.30 you can see the barrel vault structure inside the pedestrian tunnel on the west bank. This video footage is from when I visited the bridge in April and May 2018 but only just got around to creating this video. Points of interest in my video : 00:00 South side view of the three arches at water level. 00:12 Close view of one of the decorative spandrels. 00:17 View underneath showing the different construction method where the bridge was widened in 1926. 00:25 North side view of one of the arches. 00:30 Walking through the pedestrian tunnel, stonework by Benton and Woodiwiss of Derby. 00:40 The East abutment and reveal of arch. 00:51 View of southern side arch from the east bank. 01:01 View of the southern side arches from the west bank. 01:04 View of two Piers supporting the refuges. 01:19 Walk along the decorative parapet. 01:36 Close look at one of six decorative lamp standards. 01:56 View of the northern side arches from the west bank. 02:09 View of the southern side arches from the east bank. 02:29 View of southern side parapet, stonework and first arch from the west bank. 02:47 An 1870 Illustration from the 1873 catalogue by A.Handyside. 02:51 The same view but 148 years later. 02:56 View of the Northern side arches from the west bank. 03:01 Close view of one of the ironwork on one of the spandrels. 03:06 Close view of a decorative parapet. 03:10 Close view of one of the decorative spandrels. 03:15 Close view of a decorative parapet. 03:20 Sign showing A. Handyside & Co as contractors for the Ironwork. 03:24 View showing where the bridge was widened in 1926. 03:29 Walk towards the west arch on the Southern side. 03:59 Ducklings with bridge in background. Like, Share and Subscribe if you like my videos. 04:16 End. My Reference : Page 153 Example No 25 Works in Iron - Bridge and Roof Structures by Ewing Matheson of the firm Andrew Handyside and Co., Engineers, Derby and London. Published by E & F.N. Spon 1873. This bridge is also engraved in Gold on the front of this book and illustrated on the Frontispiece. To see many more bridges that were built by Andrew Handyside see my dedicated blog to their work: http://friargatebridge.blogspot.com/ ► Please like, Share, subscribe and turn on notifications. Feel free to share the link to Facebook, Twitter to anyone you think would like to see it. Music Credits : Silver Lining by Lights & Motion https://youtu.be/Ozwo5Qx-zEo Thanks Andy

Saturday 13 March 2021

Belper water Treatment works foot Bridge, made by Andrew Handyside in 1905

This footbridge is one of many bridges around the world made by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Derby and London Who made Friargate bridge in Derby. This is an access bridge which leads across the river Derwent to Belper Sewage treatment plant, You can see this treatment plant at 01:07​ in my video.

The bridge is about 100 Metres long total.

In my video I have showed how its constructed using a combination of Drone  footage and my iPhone in a Gimbal. 



Or use this link to view my video : https://youtu.be/f7qfIIWo2zQ

Thanks

Andy

Wednesday 26 June 2019

Holliday Street Aqueduct, Birmingham made by Andrew Handyside & Co Derby in 1884

As well as Derby's famous Friar Gate Bridge, Andrew Handyside also made many other bridges around the UK and the world. This blogpost is about Holliday Street Aqueduct, Birmingham, UK made by Andrew Handyside & Co Derby in 1884.

This Aqueduct carries the Worcester and Birmingham Canal over Holliday Street, it was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside & Co of Derby. Its quite a wide Aqueduct at 54.30 m (178.14 ft).

There are 24 cast iron columns (12 on each side), 4 of which are ornately decorated. The decorative columns are located on the South West and North East road entrances.
Thee are 6 old style lamp posts providing light under the Aqueduct, at night there are spot lights which illuminate alternate arches from each side.

The Aqueduct is formed from a Cast iron frame trough which is carried on segmental brick vaults supported between guiders which are then supported by cross guiders on cast iron columns along the pavement edges.

Here is a video tour showing you all the details of this aqueduct



Or use this link to view the video : Video tour of Holliday Street Aqueduct, Birmingham made by Andrew Handyside & Co Derby in 1884


I captured a 360 degree photograph up high next to the decorative iron work, see here : https://goo.gl/maps/1sMCNFeC2p2zfpGB9

Here is a Google Streetview of the bridge as seen from the road bridge:
Streetview of Barton Swing Aqueduct.

Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other bridges around the world bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

Thanks
Andy

Monday 7 September 2015

Barton Swing Aqueduct, Barton upon Irwell, Manchester, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1894

As well as Derby's famous Friar Gate Bridge, Andrew Handyside also made movable bridges!
In Manchester are two such bridges located right next to each other. This blog post is about Barton Swing Aqueduct.
On 27th June 2015 I made a special journey to go and see one of Andrew Handyside's movable bridges. I have been wanting to see this bridge for many years so it was such a thrill to finally see it in real life. I arrived at the bridge from the canal path from Ashburton Road West. Its really strange seeing the entire canal suspended in mid air. There were no signs of any water leaks around the iron trough. Its amazing to think that this bridge was made in Derby 121 years ago and its still being used.

Barton Swing Aqueduct is a moveable navigable aqueduct in Barton upon Irwell, Greater Manchester. It carries the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal.
The swinging action allows large vessels using the ship canal to pass underneath and smaller narrowboats to cross over the top. The aqueduct, the first and only swing aqueduct in the world, is a Grade II* listed building, considered a major feat of Victorian civil engineering.
Designed by Sir Edward Leader Williams and built by Andrew Handyside and Company of Derby, the swing bridge opened in 1894 and remains in regular use today.

Aerial views showing Barton Swing Aqueduct and Barton swing road bridge.

Barton Swing Aqueduct in the closed position.

Barton Swing Aqueduct in the open position.

The aqueduct is a form of swing bridge. When closed, it allows canal traffic to pass along the Bridgewater Canal. When large vessels need to pass along the ship canal underneath, the 1,450-tonne 330-foot long iron trough is rotated 90 degrees on a pivot mounted on a small purpose-built island.

Gates at each end of the trough retain around 800 tonnes of water; additional gates on each bank retain water in their adjacent stretches of canal.


My Photographs of Barton Swing Aqueduct taken June 2015 :
Barton Swing Aqueduct over the Manchester Ship canal.

The Bridgewater Canal as it flows over Barton swing aqueduct.

Here you can see Barton Swing road bridge further down stream

A view looking up at Barton Swing Aqueduct.

Side view of Barton Swing Aqueduct with a narrow Boat passing over it. This photograph taken from Barton Swing Road Bridge.

The turning mechanism built into the central island consists of a 27-foot (8.2 m) race plate embedded in granite blocks. Sixty-four tapered cast iron rollers sit on top of the race plate, held in position by a spider ring. On top of that an upper race plate supports the aqueduct and its circular gear rack, which was powered by a hydraulic engine manufactured by Sir W. G. Armstrong Mitchell of Newcastle.

Hydraulic power was originally supplied by steam from two Lancashire boilers housed in a pumping station on the Eccles bank of the ship canal; a service culvert beneath the bed of the canal conveyed the water under pressure to the control tower on the island.

In 1939 the original hydraulic engines were replaced by a pair of radial three-cylinder engines manufactured by the Hydraulic Engineering Company of Chester, and the following year a power house was built on the island to house two electrically driven pumps. The old steam pumping station was demolished after the Second World War.

The turning mechanism built into the central island. You can just about make out the Andrew Handyside logo on the left drum.

The central island



Here is a photograph of the original stone Barton Aqueduct built in 1761, This was demolished in 1893 to make way for the one we see today.


Videos of this Barton Swing Aqueduct :

Here is a time-lapse video of me walking along the canal path to Barton Swing Aqueduct Starting at Ashburton Road West (B5214).


Narrow Boat "Victoria" crosses the Barton Swing Aqueduct which allows the Bridgewater Canal to cross the Manchester Ship Canal.


The view from another Narrow boat going through Barton Swing Aqueduct.

The view from a Kayak going through Barton Swing Aqueduct.


Video showing the operation of Barton Swing Aqueduct as a Narrow boat uses it.


Here is a video showing the aqueduct from various angles :
Barton swing aqueduct.

Here is a Google Streetview of the bridge as seen from the road bridge:
Streetview of Barton Swing Aqueduct.

Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other bridges around the world bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

My next blog post will be about the next movable bridge which is right next to this one !

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Midland Railway Bridge over River Trent at Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1894

This railway bridge is on the Long Eaton to Leicester section of the Midland Counties Railway and carries trains over the river Trent (aka Trent Lock) at Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, UK

Here at Trent Lock the three counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire meet up. This is also where the River Soar and River Trent connect with the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Just down river from this bridge is Thrumpton Weir.

Midland Railway Bridge over River Trent at Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1894

The engineer for this was Mr J.A. McDonald.

Work on the original bridge (See technical engraving below, Original bridge at back, Handyside one in foreground) started in June 1838, a foundation stone was laid in December 1838 by its designer Charles Vignoles. This original bridge had three spans of 100 foot flanked
by ten twenty-five foot flood arches on the north side and two on the south. The ironwork for the original bridge was supplied by The Butterly company of Derbyshire and was completed in October 1839.

Here is a technical engraving of the new bridge with the orignal Vignoles bridge behind it.
Drawing from The Engineer January 12th 1894 :

Midland Railway Bridge over River Trent at Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1894


Andrew Handyside were contracted to install the second bridge to cater for the two extra tracks in 1894, you can see Vignoles original bridge in the background behind the new one. It would appear that Andrew Handyside may have replaced the original bridge too at a later date as this is in the same style as the additional 1894 one.

I created a looping Vine video showing this bridge which I took from a train window. you can see the structure :





Here is another view of the Handyside bridge close up

Midland Railway Bridge over River Trent at Thrumpton, Nottinghamshire, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1894

Red Hill Tunnel into which this railway line passes is 133 yards long, 26 1/2 Foot diameter and was built by the contractor Wm. Mackenzie.
The North end of the tunnel is castellated in Norman Style architecture.

Orignally there was just one tunnel here (built 1830's) but in 1895 the line was expanded to four tracks and a second tunnel was was dug adjacent to the original tunnel. The very same castellated entrance was applied to the new one.
The reason that the railway tunnel was castellated was as a concession to the owner of Thrumpton Hall, whose estate this section of railway passes through!

Here is a photograph showing the castellated entrances to the tunnels. The one on the right is the original 1830's tunnel. The one on the left is the younger 1892-93 tunnel to cope with the two extra railway tracks :



The Midland Counties Railway (MCR) was a railway company that existed between 1839 and 1844, connecting Nottingham, Leicester and Derby with Rugby vis a junction with the London and Birmingham Railway.
The MCR system connected with the North Midland Railway and the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway in Derby at what become known as the Tri Junct Station.

Links for further reading :
Charles Blacker Vignoles.
Midland Counties Railway

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this bridge on the world map. 
My world map is the result of hundreds of hours of research into the company, plotting out each item as I find it. 

Can you help find more Andrew Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other Handyside bridges around the world bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

Thanks
Andy

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Night and Morning vase, Restored in 2014. Swiss Gardens, Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, UK

The restoration team have done an excellent restoration on this vase, so good to see Handyside's work being looked after like this.

This is a Night and Morning Vase by Andrew Handyside, which is based on Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Night and Day plaques.

The Swiss Gardens have had a £2.8 million revamp thanks to the Heritage Lottery fund. There are 13 listed structures on the site and the Handyside vase is one of them.

The Britannia Foundry established a reputation with ornamental work, it was well known for producing elaborate vases. They had great success at the 1851 Great Exhibition.
They also achieved a Gold Medal "Ornamental Fountains and Vases" at Birmingham in 1872, and at the 1871 Cordova Exhibition in Argentina.
Handyside had their own dedicated catalog for fountains and urns which I have a copy of which is very useful in my research of Andrew Handyside work and identifying its products around the world.

For the 1862 International Exhibition in London they provided a cast iron fountain and several vases. One of these vases was the "Night and Morning" vase, this is the model that
you can see wonderfully restored in the Swiss Gardens here.

This is Vase Design No. 23 on Page 60 of my 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside"

A photograph of the restored vase :

Night and Morning vase by Andrew Handyside, Swiss Gardens, Shuttleworth Collection.


Here is this model of vase in my 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside" It provides dimentions and good views of the amazing design :

"Night and Morning" vase by Andrew Handyside.



Here is a page from the The Art Journal Catalogue of the International Exhibition 1862 and it shows four items that Andrew Handyside exhibited at the show. Their "Night and Morning Vase" is in the top right of the page.
The Work of Andrew Handyside for the International Exhibition 1862.
The Art Journal Catalogue of the International Exhibition 1862.


Here is a photograph of the very same vase before its restoration:

Urn


Here is another photograph of the vase in April 2011 before its restoration :
https://flic.kr/p/9BG7Hi

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this vase on the world map. 
My world map is the result of hundreds of hours of research into the company, plotting out each item as I find it. 

Can you help find more Andrew Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other vases around the world bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

Thanks
Andy

Thursday 9 April 2015

The grave of Andrew Handyside (1805-1887) and Alexander Buchanan (1829-1916) and other family members.

I have finally located the grave of Andrew Handyside and Anastasia Handyside and other relations.

As you can see its a very basic grave indeed, I imagine the headstone has been placed down for "health and safety gone mad" reasons.
This grave is located in Uttoxeter New Road Cemetery, Derby.

The grave of Andrew Handyside and wife Anastasia.
The grave of Andrew Handyside and wife Anastasia.


The inscription in the centre of the cross is MS but I think this is just a generic makers mark.

Andrew Handyside's headstone marking.

Andrew Handyside was the son of Hugh Handyside and Margaret Baird.

In the 1871 Census for Derby shows the people living at "The Cedars" as
Andrew Handyside - Head of house - 65 years old - Civil Engineer - Born in Scotland.
Anastasia Handyside - Wife - 48 years old - Born in Babanka, Poland.
Anastasia Henley - Motherinlaw - 88 years old - Born in Russia, St Petersburg.
Jane Ruddle - Servant Cook - 27 years old


Anastasia Henley was Anastasia Handyside's Mother (Andrew Handyside's Mother in law). She was born in St Petersburg on December 9th 1782 and died of Bronchitison at the age of 92 on February 17th 1875.
Her husband was John Henleywho from St Petersburg born on Bebruary 7th 1767 and died on July 1st 1855.

In the 1881 Census for Derby shows the people living at "The Cedars" as
Andrew Handyside - Head of house - 75 years old - Civil Engineer (Retired) Born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Anastasia Handyside - Wife - 58 years old - Born in Babanka, Ukraine, Poland.
Eleanor Haverfield - Grand niece - 10 years old - Scholar - Born in Callander, Scotland
Ann Webb - Servant - 29 years old - Cook - Born in Arley, Shropshire
Emma Ault - Servant - 29 - Housemaid - Born in Derby, Derbyshire. 


Anastasia Handyside  Death Certificate
Registration District  Kensington
Sub-district Kensington North in the County of London
When and where died:  16th Nov 1910, 50 St Marks Road, North Kensington
Name and Surname:  Anastasia Handyside
Sex:  Female
Age: 89 years
Occupation: Widow of Andrew Handyside, Civil Engineer
Cause of Death:  Syncope following shock the result of a fracture of the femur caused by a fall Accidental
[Syncope – fainting, loss of consciousness from fall of blood pressure – Concise OED]
Signature,description and residence of informant:  Certificate received from C Luxinoore Drew [?] Coroner for London Inquest this day 19th Nov 1910
When Registered: Twenty First November 1910
I would like to thank Peter Butt for the above information.

Anastasia Henley  Death certificate
Registration District:  Saint Peter, Derby.
When and Where died:  17 February 1875, The Cedars, Ashbourne Road
Name and Surname:  Anastasia Henley
Sex: Female
Age: 92 Years
Occupation: Widow of John Henley a Merchant
Cause of Death: Gradual decay – Bronchitis, certified by HW Baker MRCS
Signature, description and resident of information:
Emily Buchanon, Daughter of dedeased, present at death, 8 Wilson Street, Derby
When registered:  18 Feb 1875

Andrew Handyside - Will
Made in 1877
Andrew left everything to his wife and sole executor Anastasia for her sole use.
In the case of Anastasia dying before him then to his niece Louise for her sole use and as sole executor.

In this plot are....
Andrew Handyside - Age 81 Interment date 13th June 1887
Anastasia Handyside - Age 87 Interment date 21st November 1910

Andrew Handyside died on Thursday 9th June 1887 from bronchitis.

Andrew Handyside was seventeen years older than his wife, Anastasia's mother was also called Anastasia and was born in St Petersburg (now Leningrad) both became British subjects.
According to the register, Andrew Handyside paid for this plot in advance !

While hunting for the gravestone of Andrew Handyside I found the plot for Alexander Buchanan. Alexander was Andrew Handyside's Nephew and also a manager at the Britannia Iron Works in Derby.

The gravestone details:
Alexander Buchanan 1829-1916
Emily Buchanan 1827-1912

This grave is located in Uttoxeter New Road Cemetery, Derby.

The grave of Alexander Buchanan (Nephew of Andrew Handyside)


Uttoxeter New Road Cemetery, Derby
This graveyard is rather large and very heavily populated with plots so it took several visits to locate it. Because the grave stone is on its face I had no choice but to identify it using adjacent plots.

Uttoxeter New Road Cemetery, Derby tilt-view.



Thanks
Andy
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