Wednesday 29 June 2011

Curling Drinking Fountain, Marine Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK built by Andrew Handyside.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made lots of fountains. These fountains were made right here in Derby at the former Britannia Ironworks on Duke Street.

The Britannia Foundry's work was well known throughout the Victorian Era for its fine quality, so these fountains can be found all over the globe but where exactly they are located is difficult to find out. But thankfully because of my extensive research here, people are beginning to contact me with details of Handyside work. I am then able to add it to my Handyside world map and this blog, where I can go into great details about every item I find including historical information, Photographs from Flickr, Videos from Youtube, Exact map locations, Google Streetviews etc.

Here is a recent discovery I've made, since getting a copy of Handyside's 1879 fountain and vase catalogue I've been able to identify this fountain as one made by A. Handyside.

This drinking fountain is known as The Curling Drinking Fountain and since the year 2000 has been located at Seahouses Square, Marine Parade, Eastbourne in East Sussex, UK.

It was erected in 1865, unveilied on the 14th September 1865 and was commissioned by Mrs Elizabeth Curling of Kent Lodge, Seaside Road, Eastbourne.
The fountain was originally located in the middle of the road in Seaside, near the junction, near the junction of Leaf Hall Road.
It was first moved to the corner with Langney Road in the 1950’s before being restored and relocated on Marine Parade on the 21st December 2000. It was Grade II listed as of 30th March 1992.

This particular design of drinking fountain is listed as Design Number 24 on Page 42 of the 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside".
The price for this fountain is listed in April 1880 as between £18 0s 0d and £20 5s 0d depending what finish was applied (no finish, bronze/marble paint etc).
According to the drawing its 6 foot 7 inches from the base to the bottom of the lamp support and includes a animal drinking trough in the base. Looking at the photographs of this fountain in Eastbourne it would appear that the animal drinking troughs have been covered up at some point.

This fountain really is in excellent condition after a recent restoration in 2000, Compare this with the very same design of fountain I found further down the coast in Alum chine which as you can see is quite badly damaged but that one does still have the A.Handyside makers plaque in place.

Photographs of the Curling Drinking Fountain:

Very nice overall view of the fountain sitting on three octagonal Portland stone steps,
as viewed from the Marine Parade side looking inland.
Drinking Fountain
Photograph by popupstands.

Nice shot of the two intertwined dolphins by Deb Collins.
Curling Drinking Fountain, Eastbourne

Photograph by by Deb Collins showing the water spout, bowl and the two cup holders either side. This same arrangement is on the opposite side of the fountain, see bottom photo.
Curling Drinking Fountain, Eastbourne


Photograph showing an angled view with the two intertwined dolphins on
top supporting the light.
Eastbourne2006 151
Photograph by Dorothy Anne.

The fountain as viewed looking in the direction of the English Channel.
PHOT0018
Photograph by Lesterp25.

Photograph showing one of the bronze plaques and both drinking sides in shot.
The plaque reads Erected A.D. MDCCCLXV (i.e 1865)
never thirst again: John 4:14
Photograph by Old_boy.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this fountain on my 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 Fountains 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 27 June 2011

Drinking Fountain at Crich Tramway Museum, Derbyshire built by Andrew Handyside in 1873.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made lots fountains, mostly decorative ones but also practicle ones such as this Drinking fountain at Crich Tramway Museum in Derbyshire.
During the late 1800's cast iron drinking fountains were manufactured in great numbers for the Midland Railway company by Andrew Handyside and Company. If you spot one of these at your railway station or in a museum then please let me know.

This drinking fountain was made by Andrew Handyside and Co in 1873 and is located at Crich Tramway Museum just below the Bowes-Lyon bridge.
It would have originally had a "A. Handyside & Co" plaque fixed in the red section between the Lions head and the 1873 badge, You can make out the two mounting screws for the plaque above the press button.

The fountain was originally located at Matlock Bath Railway Station and was relocated here at some point. I would like to thanks to Roger Benton at Crich Tramway Village for this information.

Photograph of the Fountain:
Andrew Handyside Drinking fountain at Crich Tramway Museum.
Photograph by Andy Savage.

Another photograph of the drinking fountain:
1873 Drinking Fountain National Tramway Museum, Crich Tramway Village Derbyshire
Photograph by Woodytyke.

Do YOU know of any Midland Railway drinking fountains in your area that look like this one? If so let me know.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this fountain 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 Fountains 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 23 June 2011

Windsor & Eton Central railway station, Berkshire, UK built by Andrew Handyside in 1897

Andrew Handyside who built Friargate bridge in Derby also built quite a few Railway Stations in the UK and around the world, Since starting my Handyside research and launching this blog I am begining to discover more and more of these stations.
Originally I only knew about Nottingham railway station but in the last few weeks I have found several more.
Here is one I recently found in Windsor, Berkshire. Today most of the original station has been converted to a shopping centre called Windsor royal shopping. I think its great that the Handyside structure has been retained.

I would like to thank Malcolm Lock for the following historical  information and also for taking the time to go and take some photographs of the current buildings and ironwork that was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside.
As you can see in Marks photographs the Handyside makers badge is clearly stamped on the bottom of all
stanchions in this station.

The buildings still exist having narrowly escaped demolition after the 'rationalisation' of the branch line post Beeching.  Most now form a covered shopping mall with the ticket office acting as the Tourist
Information Centre. The conversion was tastefully done and the whole area is now very attractive It was built to mark Queen victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 although not fully completed until after Victoria's
death. It boasted 4 platforms and a goods bay and is, of course, elevated on brick arches over the lower town.

When the station was reduced to one platform (which remains today) the rest of the building was taken over by Madam Tussauds as a 'Royalty and Railways' exhibition (later know as Royalty and Empire as the railway content was quite small) However a replica locomotive was built at Swindon for the display - a Dean 4-2-2 'The Queen'  - and this remains on show to this day.
I am pleased to say that the stanchions are all marked "A Handyside and Co London and Derby 1897" as seen from the first attachment. The other pictures show the structure of the building which was originally the goods shed. A second, similar building, still in use, formed the main part of the station. You will note that the whole place is now in very good condition with the Victorian and modern blending well together. The stone building - which is visible in the excellent picture you have posted of the station under contruction - was the Royal Waiting Room and remains much as it was although now housing 'All Bar One'
This building was grade II listed on 2nd October 1975.

Photographs of the Station:

Here we can see one of the many "A. Handyside" badges that are located on the ironwork in this station.
Handyside badge at Windsor & Eton Central railway station

Goods Shed at Windsor & Eton Central railway station

You can see the Handyside badge at the bottom of this Stanchion.
Handyside badge on Stanchion base at Windsor & Eton Central railway station

Royal Waiting Room at Windsor & Eton Central railway station

'The Queen' at Windsor & Eton Central railway station

The Roof built by Andrew Handyside.
Glass Roof, Windsor Royal Station


Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this railway station 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 Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other Railway Stations 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

Wednesday 22 June 2011

How Victorian Fountains were powered before electric pumps.

A few people have asked me how all the decorative fountains made by Handyside used to be powered in the Victorian Era. In August 1879 Andrew Handyside published...
"An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside"

In Catalogue C, it goes into great details of how to power one of their fountains. Makes interesting reading.
Some strange ideas in this guide about using a Horse etc, but you have to remember this was a long time ago before the days of electric power pumps etc.


The Head of Water and the Water Supply: 
The height or force of a jet depends upon the amount of fall between the reservoir and the Fountain, a minimum of 10 to 12 feet being necessary to produce a proper jet. This amount of fall must be reckoned
by taking the difference of level between the surface of the water in the reservoir and the top of the brass jet on the Fountain. Where this minimum head of water does not exist, and the force is therefore necessarily small, a pleasant appearance may yet be obtained by having a Fountain, such as No. 11 or No. 20, with a tier of basins, so that the water, although only bubbling forth at the jet, may, by dripping from one basin to the other, produce a good effect. lf there is a very plentiful supply of water, the appearance of a cascade may be produced by having supply-pipes of considerable diameter.

It is always an advantage to have the Fountain as near the reservoir as possible, as although water will find its level at any distance, it will, if conveyed far through pipes, lose by friction a portion of the impetus necessary to produce an effective jet. For the same reason bends in the pipe should be avoided where possible, and where they do occur the angles should not be acute. lt is in many instances, however impossible to avoid a long distance, and when this is the case, and a considerable length of piping has to be laid from the reservoir to the Fountain, it is advisable, when the head of water is less than 20 feet, either to have supply pipes of a large diameter the whole distance, or to commence with a large diameter at the reservoir, and gradually reduce towards the Fountain.
For instance if the length is 200 feet, and the pipe through the centre of the Fountain to jet is 3/4 inch internal diameter, all the supply-pipe may, with advantage, be 1 1/4 inch diameter, or the 50 feet of pipe nearest the reservoir be 1 1/2 inch, the next 50 feet 1 1/4 inch, and the remainder 1 inch; as, by adopting this method, the force of the water is, to a considerable extent, retained at the jet, while if the entire length of pipe is only 3/4 inch diameter the loss through friction is considerable. In towns or districts where waterworks exist, and where pipes have to be laid to join the "main", and to bring the water some distance to the Fountain, it is desirable to carry out the same plan, considering the "main " as the reservoir.
If the Fountain is near the "main" and is supplied directly from it, the above details are not necessary, as the head of water is generally considerable, unless the Fountain be upon very high ground.

A Fountain may be supplied with water from public waterworks, or from a reservoir constructed on a neighbouring hill, or from an iron tank. In those cases where the supply is obtained from public waterworks, the water is generally measured by a meter and paid for, the price in England varying from 10d to 14d per 1000 gallons.
If the water supply is obtained from an tank, the size varies with the size of the Fountain, and with the period which elapses before the tank can be refilled. If the tank can be supplied with water at any time, it will be found sufficient to have one capable of holding enough for two hours consumption. but if the supply is liable to interruption, it is better to have a tank large enough to form a reserve.

For supplying a small Fountain from an iron tank, and where the latter cannot be filled from public waterworks, a hand-pump will be sufficient for the purpose. Where a large Fountain has to be supplied, there are various methods by which the tank may be filled.

Pumps may be worked by horse, pony, or bullock power. Water-wheels, Turbines, Hydraulic Rams, Wind Engines, or Steam Engines, are all available for raising the water, and as a supply is often needed for other purposes besides that of a Fountain, the rank and pumping apparatus may be arranged according to the necessities of each special case. The horse or bullock gear necessary for working pumps is similar to that often used for giving power to agricultural machines, and the same gear may be used for various services.

Water is one of the most economical sources of power, and may be used in different ways. when a running stream exists, a small wheel will give considerable power, and if tastefully arranged will form an ornament in a park or pleasure-grounds; and in some cases horizontal water wheels or Turbines may be used to advantage in preference to the ordinary water-wheels.

The Hydraulic Ram is an ingenious machine, by which water, with a moderate fall, and when brought in a pipe from pond or reservoir for the purpose, may be used to
force water to a considerable height, without the intervention of a pump, and entirely by its own self-action.

Wind engines are well suited for working pumps. They are very economical in their action, will work night and day without any attention, and they cost nothing to keep them going. The power obtained by them can be used either for pumping or for driving chaff-cutters and other agricultural implements.

Steam power affords the nicest powerful means of pumping large quantities of water, and there is an endless variety of engines made for this purpose. Small machines, called "Steam Pumps", are very useful where the raising of water is the only service required, and these pumps occupy very little room and do not require a large boiler.

Well know you know!
Andy

Saturday 18 June 2011

Pillar Box, Bridge Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon, Ireland made by Andrew Handyside before 1901

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made thousands of iconic Pillar boxes for the UK and Ireland? I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Britannia Ironworks on Duke Street, Derby.

Handyside had the Post Office Contract to make pillar boxes from 1878 to 1933 (1931-1933 known as Derby Castings). So its highly likely that at some point in your life a letter will have been posted via a Handyside box.

Here is one such Pillar Box in Ireland and a distinctive green colour and still in use today.
On the front of this box is a "VR" which is the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria. This would have been manufactured in Derby sometime between 1887-1901.

This Pillar Box is located outside the National Irish Bank on the corner of Bridge Street where it meets Patrick Street. This is in Boyle, County Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland.

Photograph of the green Handyside Pillar Box:
Victoria Pillar Box, Bridge Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon
Photograph by Gerry Ward.

Here is a Google Streetview of this Pillar Box.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this Pillar Box 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.

Google Streetview has captured this Pillar Box.

Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other Pillar Boxes 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

Friday 17 June 2011

Decorative Vase at Erewash Museum, Ilkeston, Derbyshire Made by Andrew Handyside

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby were also famous at the item for making highly decorative cast iron vases, urns and fountains. They were made to such high quality that they were in high demand. Here at Erewash Museum in Ilkeston, Derbyshire is a very fine example of such work.

Have a look at my photographs and you will see how amazingly intricate this cast iron work is.
Just below the large bowl of the vase are busts of Peel, Nelson, Watt, Wellington, Stephenson, Scott, Shakespeare and Milton.

This vase design is No.16 on page 66 of Catalogue C August 1879 of "A illustrated catalogue of fountains and vases, manufactured by Andrew Handyside & Co. Derby" So there are probably many more vases like this out there in the world, do you own one?

Handyside showed this design of vase at the Great exhibition of London in 1851.

This vase is also featured on page 6 of the 1862 Art-Journal catalogue. Which has details about the vase as follows.
"The establishment of Mr Handyside, of Derby - the "Britannia Foundry" - is principally represented by the elegant Iron Case which we have engraved above it. The base is an octagon having eight open-work screens hanging in front of the pedestal, which give it singular lightness and elegance to the entire object. As an example of the taste and improvement which characterises the iron manufactures of our own country, we believe our readers will consider this work deserving of much beter attention: It is an excellent design, as excellently worked out, and reflects credit on the establishment from which it has emanated - one that from the magnitude of its operations is second to none in England."

Photographs of the Vase:
Overview of vase
Handyside Urn, Erewash Museum 1

A close view of the entire vase.
Handyside Urn, Erewash Museum 2

View of the very intricate cast iron screen panels.
Handyside Urn, Erewash Museum 3

View looking up underneath the bowl showing the fine decoration.
Handyside Urn underneath view, Erewash Museum 5

Shakespeare, One of eight portrait heads on this bowl, these are cast iron!
Shakespeare cast in Iron on Handyside Urn

Show your support for this museum by making a dontation next time you visit.
www.erewashmuseum.co.uk

Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other Handyside 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 16 June 2011

You can now search for items made by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd.

My Andrew Handyside blog is starting to get quite large now due to the amount of items I am finding around the world. Because of the blog people are starting to get in touch because they have an item in their city with a "A. Handyside" makers badge on it.

I have now added a "Search this blog" widget to my blog. This is on the right side near the top of every blog post. This will allow you to search all of my posts for something.
In addition to this I have now started a page which lists all of the items which I have posted about so far.
Posts list of items made by Andrew Handyside.
Hopefully this will allow you to find any item you are looking for.

I have a few recent finds to blog about very soon such as...
Two fountains in Norway
An old railway station in Durban, South Africa.
Tucuman Railway Station in Argentina.
Santiago Del Estero railway station in Argentina.
Windsor railway station.
Vase in Ilkeston.

I am struggling to find a photographer in Tampico, Mexico who can speak English. Anyone out there know of someone in Tampico? The entire square has lots of ironwork by Handyside!

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Footbridge in Belper River Gardens built by Andrew Handyside in 1907.

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made many hundreds of other bridges of many different sizes around the world such as this footbridge located in the River Gardens at Belper, Derbyshire, UK.
Next time you visit Belper River Gardens have a look at this bridge, its located near the car park area.

This footbridge was supplied by Andrew Handyside and Company Ltd in 1907 at a cost of £339. It was installed when a refreshments centre pavilion was built on the triangle of land at the southern end of the river gardens. You can clearly see this triangle of land using my map link below.

As you can see by my photographs (May 2011) this bridge is in a very poor state at the moment and in need of some serious restoration work. Belper River Gardens has recently been revamped and is looking nice so shame this bridge has been left. I hope its going to get restored.

Updates :
In 2012 I applied to English Heritage to get this bridge listed but they decided its not worth saving.
8th March 2014 - I have just been to see this bridge today and its still standing, surrounded by metal fencing.Its only a matter of time before its rusted away and lost forever.

Even though this is "just a footbridge" you can see that Handyside has embellished the side panels with some decorative ironwork. See my 4th photograph.


Photographs of the bridge at Belper River Gardens:

Wide view showing the location of the bridge below East Mill
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens by Andrew Handyside 1

Photograph showing four of the bridge sections
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens by Andrew Handyside 2

The South end of the bridge.
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens by Andrew Handyside

A side view showing some of the decorative ironwork
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens by Andrew Handyside

A bridge in need of some TLC.
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens by Andrew Handyside


This is a photograph of how the footbridge looked in 1908, As you can see its was an attractive looking footbridge. A pitty its got into the state its in today in 2011.

I would like to thank Adrian Farmer for this old photograph.
Footbridge at Belper River Gardens in working order.


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.

Google Streetview has captured this bridge HERE.

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 13 June 2011

Gouritz River Bridge, Cape Province, South Africa built in Derby by Andrew Handyside in 1892.

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made many hundreds of other bridges of many different sizes around the world such as the Gouritz River Road Bridge in Cape Province, South Africa.
Today this bridge is no longer used a road bridge as there is a newer one (built 1972), but is in fact now used for Bungee Jumping !
I think its great that despite the fact that the bridge no longer serves its original purpose, its now used for fun. You can book a bungee jump on Handyside's bridge here:
http://www.faceadrenalin.com/gouritsbridge.html

The parts for this bridge were manufactured at the Fox Street foundry in Derby by Andrew Handyside & Co. Ltd. The bridge would have probably been transported via Englands railway network to a sea port for shipping to South Africa and assembly.

The engineer for this bridge was Sir Benjamin Baker, M Inst, C.E, London.
It has a central span of 420 feet and two side spans of 140 feet each.
The height above the river bed is 210 feet.
The total weight of the bridge is 1,000 tons.

Photographs of Gouritz River road bridge by Andrew Handyside :
The Gouritz River Road Bridge

Old Gouritz River Bridge

River Gouritz Bridge

Uno Duo BUNGEE-O - Part 1


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.

Google Streetview  has captured the bridge but you can only just see it as its the middle bridge of the three that run parallel with each other.

Video of someone doing a Bungee Jump off this bridge:


This road bridge was built in 1892 and is one of the longest (219 metres) and highest (61 metres) bridges in South Africa. A new double-laned road bridge to replace this bridge was built in 1972.
The railway line between Riversdale arid Mossel Bay was opened in 1906 and crossed the river by the same bridge, but a new railway bridge was built in 1931.

My Reference :
Page 14 of Steel & Iron Structures Made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Derby and London. Published 1904.

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

Sunday 12 June 2011

Handyside Bridge, Darley Abbey, Derby built by Andrew Handyside in 1877.

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made the next GNR railway bridge North of Friargate Bridge, today this bridge is called Handyside Bridge but when originally built it was just a "GNR railway bridge" of course. This bridge is located very near to Handyside's former Britannia Foundry and even had its own branch line which it was able to use to get goods onto the Friargate line.

This bridge contains 155 tons of wrought iron and 11 tons of cast iron.
The railway bridge was converted into a footbridge in 1978.

I have made a short film about this bridge to get across the facts about the bridge which you can watch below. I have recorded it in 720p HD so best watched in fullscreen. This film pretty much covers all the details about this bridge. Let me know if I have missed any details and I will add it to this text.

Handyside Bridge in Derby.
A short film about this 134 year old bridge built by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd



The Beeching Axe.

Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage.

The GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension route or Derby Friar Gate Line as its often referred to locally was a "back line"that opened in 1878 and ran from Nottingham through Derby (over Handyside bridge and Friar Gate Bridge) and to Egginton where it joined the North Staffordshire Railway.
This line closed in 1964 and slowly taken apart but there are still plenty of reminders where the Friargate line once ran such as Handyside bridge.
If you would like to know more about the GNR Derby Friargate Line then you can follow the entire route of it on my map here

The Derby Friargate Line Route Map (aka GNR Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension).

If you would like a map centred over this bridge the click here:
http://tinyurl.com/handysidebridge

The next bridge downstream to cross over the River Derwent is Saint Mary's Bridge which is 448 meters downstream.

The next bridge upstream to cross the river is Haslam's Lane Toll bridge which is 1541 metres upstream

Hope you found my video of interest. Next time you walk over Handyside bridge take some time to have a look at how its constructed and imagine what it must have been like to see trains thundering across it.

Photographs of Handyside Bridge:
Handyside Bridge underneath view.

Handyside Bridge closeup of construction

Handyside Bridge built to last


Photograph of the makers badge.
This plaque used to be fixed to the top arch of the bridge. It was removed and put into storage at the museum so doubt many people will have seen this.
I would like to thank Roger Shelley, principal keeper of Derby Industrial Museum (The Silk Mill) for allowing me to photograph this.
A. Handyside & Co Ltd badge from Handyside Bridge, Derby.

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.

Google Streetview  has not managed to capture the bridge but you can see the path that goes over it here.

Can you help find more Andrew 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

Friday 10 June 2011

Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield built by Andrew Handyside in 1878

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made the Structural steelwork and cast-ironwork for many large buildings around the world and they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works". Some of their buildings are still in use today while others have been converted into buildings for a different function.
On a recent visit to Sheffield (to See Adam and the Ants) I tracked down another of Andrew Handysides creations, that of the internal arched cast-iron structure of a former Drill Hall. Today the building is used as a car showroom.

The Volunteer Artillery Drill Hall, on Edmund Road Sheffield was built for the use of the 4th West York Artillery Volunteers. The building is confusingly known both as the Volunteer Artillery Drill Hall and
Norfolk Barracks, and the address given as either Clough Road or Edmund Road.
The main frontage of the building is on Clough road (see my first photograph below). Its an amazing looking building as you can see. Looks like its currently having some work done to it.

The roof was manufactured in Derby by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd and is constructed in one span, without pillars. The drill room, 108 feet long and 90 feet wide, and a gun-shed the same length, but
narrower. Messrs. M. E. Hadfield and Son were the architects

This building was Grade II listed on 20 December 1978.

I would like to thanks the guys at www.thecarspecialists.com for giving me permission to take photographs inside this building.

Photographs of Sheffield Drill Hall:

The Drill Hall exterior shot (May 2011)
Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield

The Handyside roof on the top floor.
Handyside roof in Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield

Arched support trusses by Andrew Handyside :
Handyside roof in Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield

Another view of the roof:
Handyside roof in Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield

The far wall of the drill hall has this mural painted on it.
It translates as Always, where right and glory lead. The motto of the Royal Artillery :
The wall inside Edmund Road Drill Hall, Sheffield

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this building 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.

Google Streetview of this building

Can you help find more Andrew Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other items 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 7 June 2011

Holgate Road bridge in York built in Derby by Handyside in 1911.

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made many hundreds of other bridges of many different sizes around the world such as this road bridge in York, UK which is still in use today.

This road bridge, south west of York Railway station carries Holgate Road (A59) over the railway tracks.
At the western entrace to this bridge stands St Paul's church.
This bridge was renovated in 2007, when strengthening work was carried out on the underside of the bridge which is why it looks in pretty good condition for a hundred year old structure.
Using Google Streetview it would appear that this bridge has two Handyside badges on it, located at the far ends of the bridge.

Photographs of this bridge

Photograph of the Handyside badge on this bridge:
Bridge over railway
Photograph taken by Ian Stubbs.

Photograph of the bridge from a pedestrians point of view.
HOLGATE  BRIDGE
Photograph taken by Carl Spencer.

Photograph of this bridge from a pedestrians point of view on the other side.
BUS ON THE BRIDGE

Photograph taken by Carl Spencer.


Photograph of nice light and shadows on the bridge.
Holgate bridge
Photograph taken by Ivana Thng.

Photograph of Steam train "Green Arrow" passing under this bridge in 1979.
Green Arrow Leaves York
Photograph by Don Tate.

Notice how the makers badge on this bridge does not say "Andrew Handyside", it just says Handyside. This is because the original company of Andrew Handyside went into liquidation in 1910, a new company using the original foundry and name was set up to continue making bridges. This re-use of the Handyside brand happened a few more times.

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.


Google Streetview of this bridge. Take a look around the entire structure!

Can you help find more Andrew 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