Saturday 24 September 2011

My world map showing all the locations of items made by Andrew Handyside & Company of Derby and London.

I started this mapping project about a year ago with the odd item I knew about but over the months I kept finding more and more items by Andrew Handyside around the world. In February 2011 I decided to create this dedicated blog to the work of Andrew Handyside, this allowed me to go into great details about each item and link it to my world map.

Each marker on my map indicates an item that was manufactured in Derby at the Britannia Ironworks by Andrew Handyside & Co, I have also included any items marked as Derby Castings Limited as these were also made at the same foundry.

I have used different coloured markers for different items as follows.
Yellow = Bridges
Purple = Railway Stations/Roofs/Buildings.
Blue = Fountains/Vases/Urns
Red = Pillar Boxes/Post Boxes/Wall Boxes
Red Triangle = Location of item no longer present (demolished).


Down the left side of the map you will see all the markers, you can scroll this list down and simply click on an item to make the map highlight the location. A pop up window will show when you do this giving more information on the item.

or you can simple drap the map around and use the mouse wheel to zoom in on places and then click on a marker to learn more.

See my Andrew Handyside world map here, Just click the link below :

World map of items manufactured by Andrew Handyside & Co.
or..
Map showing items made by Andrew Handyside & Co, Zoomed in over the U.K.


I hope you found my map of interest. If you know of anything out there around the world made by Andrew Handyside that I have not yet mapped out here then please get in touch so I can add it to my map.

Thanks
Andy

Thursday 15 September 2011

Albert Bridge in Chelsea, London built by Andrew Handyside in 1873.

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. This bridge in London has to be one of the most famous and attractive looking bridges that Andrew Handyside built.

Albert Bridge is a Grade II listed road bridge over the River Thames in West London, It connects Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. Albert Bridge was Grade II-listed in 1975.

It was designed by the Victorian Engineer Rowland Mason Ordish from Melbourne in Derbyshire (who designed St Pancras Railway station roof, Derby Market Hall, Esplande Mansions).

It has been used as a backdrop for several films such as Absolute Beginners, Sliding Doors and Maybe Baby as well as music videos (see links to video below the photographs.)

The bridge was entirely manufactured in Derby at the Britannia Iron Works by Andrew Handyside in 1872.
The bridge is 710 foot long. The river pier is formed by two concrete columns within cast iron cylinders, these were not made by Handyside but were cast at a foundry adjoining the site.

The bridge is covered with  4000 low-voltage tungsten-halogen bulbs which are switched on when night falls to create an absolutely stunning looking bridge.


Photographs of Albert Bridge.
My Panoramic photo of the bridge
Albert Bridge panoramic Photograph

My photo from Chelsea end of the end of the bridge.
Albert Bridge, London

Albert bridge is covered with thousands of lights so looks great at night here.
Fireworks over Albert Bridge

Albert Bridge 1

Videos featuring this bridge:
A time-lapse video of a day in the life of Albert Bridge.


Links to more videos:
View from a Speed boat going under Albert Bridge at night.

Albert bridge at night.

Albert Bridge sunrise time-lapse.

Albert Bridge Publicity Stunt - car on two wheels.

Video postcard of Albert Bridge.

Music video - Don't Get Me Wrong by The pretenders.

Music Video - Misty Morning Albert Bridge by The Pogues.

My Reference :
Pages 170-175 of 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.

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 

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Derby Castings Limited GR Wall Box on Willington Post Office 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 the Post Office on The Castle Way in Willington, 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 Willington Post Office
GR Wall Box at Willington Post Office, Derbyshire

Photograph showing the complete wall box.
GR Wall Box at Willington Post Office, Derbyshire

Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, Derby"
GR Wall Box at Willington Post Office, Derbyshire


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

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Lamppost, Cathedral Green, Derby made by Andrew Handyside in 1893.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made lots of other cast iron street furniture items such as lampposts. These lampposts were made right here in Derby at the former Britannia Ironworks on Duke Street.

Next time you visit Derby Cathedral Green where Derby's Museum of Industry and History is located, stop and have a look at the ornate Lamppost located near the top of Silk Mill Lane near the Old Silk Mill pub.

This lighting column was originally located on Museum Square on the Wardwick but re-erected at this location on the 10th October 1993 to mark the centenary of Derby's first public electric lighting scheme.
It is the ONLY surviving example of the columns used in this scheme and is close to the side of Derby's first electric power station.
In 2008 it was taken down and put into safe storage while the Derby Cathedral Green was being created, It was re-erected in 2009.

This lamppost is 30’ high, 2’9” diameter swan neck, with moulded pendant. Heavily moulded lower section, with applied Derby Borough Council Crest also manufacturers name "Andrew Handyside, Derby".
A few months ago I photographed another Handyside lamppost which is in the museum stores.

Have a real look all around at this Handyside lamppost using my interactive 360 degree photograph below. I created this show in 2009 when the newly created Derby Cathedral Green had just opened.
360 degree Virtual Reality Photograph. <--Click to view it.

Photographs of the Handyside cast Iron Lamppost.
A view showing the complete lamppost and its location.
Handyside Lamp 4 of 4, Derby Cathedral Green

A view of the top of the lamp post with the ornate decoration.
Handyside Lamp 3 of 4, Derby Cathedral Green

A close up of the finely detailed casting on this lamppost. Showing the Borough Council crest of arms.
Handyside Lamp 2 of 4, Derby Cathedral Green

A close up of the Andrew Handyside badge and year of manufacture.
Handyside Lamp 1 of 4, Derby Cathedral Green

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this lamppost 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.
No Google Streetview for this item due to the Google car driving past during the Cathedral Green makeover so it was in storage at the time !

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

Saturday 10 September 2011

My Andrew Handyside research mentioned in the Argentinian newspaper La Gaceta.

Last weekend an article was printed in the Argentinian newspaper "La Gaceta". La Gaceta is a daily newspaper (established in 1912) with a circulation of 46,000 copies. The article relates to two fountains in Tucuman, Argentina that were made by Andrew Handyside. I have blogged about these fountains.

The article in written in Spanish but I have provided a link to an English translated version. Also in case the article is taken off line eventually I have also provided screen grabs of the article in Spanish and English.

Web Links:
The article on the La Gaceta web site in Spanish.
The article on the La Gaceta web site translated into English. (loses a bit in translation!)

Or if the online article no longer exisits then use these images below.
Screen Grabs:
Just click the image to enlarge it then click again to maximise it to fill the screen so you can read it.

1) English Translated version

2) Spanish version

Thanks
Andy