Sunday 30 October 2011

Rossmore Road bridge near Marylebone Railway Station, London built by Andrew Handyside in 1897.

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.
On a recent trip to London I have found another bridge made by this local firm. This road bridge is located next to Marylebone Railway Station, it carries Rossmore Road over the 7 sets of tracks that terminate at Marylebone Railway Station. This is where you can then get on the Underground as Marylebone tube station is also located here.
Marylebone Station opened on 15 March 1899 and was originally the London terminus of the ill-fated Great Central Main Line, it now serves as the terminus of the Chiltern Main Line route.
All of the support stanchions that are located under Rossmore Road are embellished with "Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd 1897 Derby & London" as you can see in my photographs below.
Marylebone Station its self has recently been restored, I'm not sure if the station ironwork was built by Handyside as I could not see any makers marks on the ironwork but I did find "George Smith & Co Glasgow & Clippens Ltd" on the supports of a canopy outside the station.

Photographs of this bridge.
A view of Rossmore Road bridge as viewed from Marylebone Railway Station.
Rossmore Road bridge build by Andrew Handyside.


A view from the centre platform showing 10 bridge stanchions.
Rossmore Road bridge build by Andrew Handyside.

A view showing the construction of the road bridge from underneath.
Rossmore Road bridge build by Andrew Handyside.

Decorative Handyside ironwork.
Rossmore Road bridge build by Andrew Handyside.

Andrew Handyside makers badge on the bridge stanchions:
Rossmore Road bridge build by Andrew Handyside.

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 

Thursday 6 October 2011

Derby Castings Limited GR Wall Box on Western Road, Mickleover, Derby made in 1933.

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 example of a Wall Box that was made at the Britannia Ironworks in 1933. This one is still in constant use to this day. Its located in the wall outside a shop on Westrn Road, Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire, UK. The GR is the Royal cipher for King George V.

Manufacture of cast-iron wall boxes in the UK for postal use finished in 1980.

Photographs

Photograph showing the location of the Wall Box outside the shop on Western Road
GR Wall Box on Western Road, Mickleover, Derby

Photograph showing the complete wall box.
GR Wall Box on Western Road, Mickleover, Derby

Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, Derby"
GR Wall Box on Western Road, Mickleover, Derby

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this Wall 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 of this wall 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