Electricity junction boxes made by Andrew Handyside which look like their Pillar boxes

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made electricity junction boxes around the world, there are still several examples of these in the UK such as : 

Liverpool Road, Ainsdale, Formby
King's Gardens, Southport, North Meols
School Avenue, Formby, Sefton, Merseyside
Scarisbrick Avenue, Southport

I have seen them in different colours, Red, Green blue and even black with gold highlights such as the one in the middle of the roundabout on Liverpool Road, Ainsdale Formby : 

These cast iron pillar-box structures (similar to a UK pillarbox) are an Electricity junction boxes (sometimes refered to as a feeder pillar)

The "cap" or lid features a decorative finial, and the body has two hinged doors and the lock hole on the right of teh doors to allow engineers access to the internal wiring. There are doors on opposite sides each with a crest of arms such as the one in Southport : Salus Populi (Suprema Lex): This is part of Southport’s motto, meaning "The welfare of the people (is the highest law)."

It is made of heavy cast iron, designed to withstand the elements and provide a secure, fireproof housing for high-voltage cables and fuses.

At the time, there wasn't a standard "look" for electrical infrastructure. Since companies like Handyside were already mass-producing post boxes using the same casting techniques, it was cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing to use a similar "pillar" silhouette for electrical junctions. It allowed the new technology to blend into the Victorian streetscape without looking too industrial.

I have a news article from The Derby Mercury on Wednesday 11th March 1896 which reads  :

"A DERBY CONTRACT FOR SOUTH AFRICA.—The Corporation of Durban, the port of Natal, have accepted tenders for installation of the electric light throughout the town. Amongst them is the tender of Messrs. Andrew Handyside and Co., of Derby, for 70 cast-iron junction boxes at 7s. 6d. each; 400 cast-iron service boxes at 26s. each; 70 cast-iron manhole frames, &c., covers, at 30s. each; and 100 spare porcelain blocks and 100 blank flanges."

So I wonder if any of those electrical junction boxes still exisit, if you live in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and have seen a Handyside electrical junction box please get in touch.

I found this old newspaper article from some years ago where people were asking what these items were, maybe they will find my post about them here.

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Thanks

Andy

Puerto Madero Mooring bollards, Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America c1888

 Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made lots of things you may not associate with them such as street furniture.

Here is one such example in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Here in Puerto Madero (Madero Port), Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America you will find lots of Mooring bollards around the dock that were made by Andrew Handyside as you can see in my photographs.

Towards the end of the 19th century, due to the rapid growth of its population and its trade, Buenos Aires needed a port. In 1882 Eduardo Madero, a merchant from Buenos Aires, presented a project to build the port. Engineer Huergo objected to the project and presented an alternative. Despite the general opinion that Huergo's project was better, the government approved Madero's plans, the works began in 1887 and ended 1897. The Handyside Mooring bollards have probably been in place for at least 130 years and have been left as part of the heritage.

There could be other Handyside items around this area as there are numerous bridges and fountains in Argentina which I have seen over the years.

In 1989, the 170 hectares of the old port were urbanized, in the radius located between Brasil street, Ingeniero Huergo and Eduardo Madero avenues, Cecilia Grierson boulevard, Riachuelo and South Dock. The old red brick merchandise warehouses developed by Eduardo Madero were rescued from abandonment and recycled, respecting their port style. In these large sheds that span several blocks, restaurants were gradually installed, then corporate buildings and commercial offices multiplied, and finally residential apartment buildings were built.

Today this area is known as Puerto Madero Waterfront and is a vibrant area known for its glass skyscrapers, luxury apartments, restaurants and nightlife as you can see by the drone photographs of this dock in 2025.

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Thanks

Andy

Gas Works Road, Reading, Berkshire, UK made by Andrew Handyside in 1884

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made iron/steel work for lots of railway stations around the world, here is one such example in Reading.

Gas Works Road, Reading, Berkshire, UK made by Andrew Handyside in 1884.

This road bridge was built for the Reading Gas Company and goes over the River Kennet, Today this road is for cyclists and pedestrian use only.

This skew lattice road bridge was built for the Reading Gas Company, for the purpose of connecting its works with a new site of about 13 acres. The bridge also carries 24" gas mains across the road.

On the brick section at the end of the bridge is a large cast iron Borough of Reading coat of arms cast by Andrew Handyside : 

The large gasometer you can see in the older photographs (Gasholder No.4) was demolished in 2022.

Here is a photograph taken from a plane in 1922 showing the bridge and the Gasometer : 

2021 view :

Design drawings for the bridge :

My Reference: The Engineer May 29th 1885 Page 423 :

"This bridge has been erected over the river Kennet, at Reading, near its mouth adjoining the Thames, by the Reading Gas Company, for the purpose of connecting its works with a new site of about 13 acres, and for carrying the necessary mains from the present to the new works. 

The bridge is on the skew at an angle of 42 deg., and the span between the piers from centre to centre is 107ft.; the main girders are 119ft 8in. long and 9ft 6in. deep, the top booms being 2ft. 6in. wide and the bottom booms 1ft 9in. wide and 23ft. 9in. apart, centre to centre, giving a clear way over the bridge of 22ft. 

The cross girders are 2ft deep at the centre, placed 5ft. 2in. apart, on the top flanges of which are riveted the wrought iron buckled plates, which have a rise of 3in. in the centre, the longitudinal joists being supported on T-iron bearers. The ends of 

the main girders rest upon Bessemer steel rollers and cast iron bed-plates planned on the surface. 

It will be observed that two 24in. mains, which are of wrought iron with flanged joints, are carried outside the main girders by the stiffening brackets in order to give the regulation height over the river without increasing the level of the roadway of the bridge more than necessary. 

These mains are loosely laid upon the webbing of the stiffeners, and are free to move with the expansion or contraction of the bridge or with the slight vibration of a passing load, and each main is provided with an expansion joint on both sides of the bridge. In practice these mains are thoroughly gas tight—not always attained on bridge work—and are, of course, at all times exposed to view. 

The lattice bars and various other parts are of the various dimensions figured on the detail drawings. The bridge has been erected from the specification and plans of Mr. Edward Baker, the engineer to the Reading Gas Company, by Messrs Andrew Handyside and Co. of Derby"

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Thanks

Andy

Audleys Wood Hotel, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. Decorative iron roof made by Andrew Handyside in 1880

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made ironwork for many buildings and hotels, a lot of their building ironwork is structural and can’t be seen but here is one example where their ironwork was made to be on view, quite a unique Handyside find this one.

Audleys Wood Hotel, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.

This hotel is in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It was built in 1880, Originally the Neo Gothic Renaissance mansion of auctioneer Thomas Pain (director of the bloodstock auctioneers Messrs Tattersalls). 

In 1989 it was converted to a 4-star 72 bedroom hotel surrounded by woodlands and seven acres of private grounds.

Great to see they have left all the fine ironwork on show, all made in Derby at the Britannia foundry 146 years ago.

As you can see in the photographs, there is lots of ironwork on show here. Round cast iron support pillars with square capitals, decorative riveted rafters, decorative cast iron spandrels surrounding the doorways etc.

This ironwork was originally painted black, but they have now painted it cream to match the walls, it all looks rather splendid.

A potted history of this building : 

1880 Built.

1887 Owned by William Bradshaw.

1900 Henry Adolphus Simonds purchased the estate.

1944 Owned by Viscount Camrose, the editor and proprietor of The Daily Telegraph.

1951 The house and gardens were sold to the county council, who ran Audleys Wood as a home for the elderly and a workshop for the disabled. 

1989 Converted to Audleys Wood Hotel.

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Thanks

Andy

Lodge Road bridge, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, UK. Made by Andrew Handyside in 1896

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made lots of other bridges around the world such as this road bridge in St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, UK.

This bridge on Lodge Road over the railway lines was built in Derby by Andrew Handyside in 1896.

There were originally 4 tracks running under this bridge, today there are 3 one is Marylebone to Harrow on Hill (The Great Central line)

Handyside also built the road bridge 0.3 miles southeast over the same railway line at Rossmore Road (Marylebone station)

It was repainted in 2011 in blue and white...

It's a single span bridge of 101ft and a width of 53ft. on the South east side of the bridge the railway tracks are overground, on the North west side the bridge the railway is underground.

My reference : The Engineer 1896
"On the west side of St. John's Wood-road Station, a fine iron bridge by Messrs. Andrew Handyside and Co., of Derby and London, is just 

completing. This carries Lodge-road over the new line, and has separate footways on each side outside the main girders. 

It is the last over-bridge so far, being immediately succeeded by three temporary ones carrying the line over the canal. Hardly a house is now left on the great area south of this, and there seems every probability that it will be brought into use as a coal depot some time 

before passenger traffic begins. A good deal of the old brickwork of the demolished houses, we observed, is being broken up on the spot as if for road metal. It would probably make excellent ballast, as it would drain well and not turn readily either to mud or to dust."

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Thanks

Andy

A foot powered treadle grinder made by Andrew Handyside c1878

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby made lots of items you probably would never have even thought about such as farming machinery.

Here is one such example: a foot powered treadle grinder in Australia.

"Mr. Phillips" is the inventor of the grinder, it dates from before 1878. I have seen a winding wheel with Phillips' on it too.

Here are some other item that Handyside made that you may not have know about : Smith's Hearths, Forges, Winding Engines, Agricultural equipment, Lathes, Motorcar cylinders, Steam vessels, Carriage wheels, Locomotive tenders, Cotton pressing machines, Water Cranes and Coal Trucks to name but a few.

Photos courtesy of Cliff Overton, thanks to Joan Picone.

If you know of any other farming machinery out there by Handyside please get in touch.

My reference : The Engineer issued 1878.

PHILLIPS’ TREADLE GRINDER.
MESSRS. HANDYSIDE and Co., of Derby, exhibit at the Islington Show, among other things, the neat little grinding machine, the invention of Mr. Phillips, which we illustrate, for sharpening reaper knives and such like. The grinder can sit at his work, and use both feet on the treadle, and is consequently able to work much quicker and better than is the case when he has to stand balancing on one leg and work the treadle with the other. This is a decided improvement. The cost of the machine is very small.

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Thanks
Andy

Petersham Railway Station Footbridge, New South Wales, Australia built by Andrew Handyside 1892

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby made hundreds of different bridges around the world here is one such example located in Australia.

Petersham Railway Station Footbridge, New South Wales, Australia.

Photograph from 1900 (colourised) of the footbridge

Petersham railway station opened in 1857 as a halt but was expanded in 1892 to include four railway lines, at this point Andrew Handyside supplied the 

footbridge to connect the island platform to the outer platforms. The footbridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.

It was recently restored in 2023/2024

Looking at the decorative iron work on the station (facing Terminus Street) I'm wondering if thats Handyside too as it looks like it could be, if anyone lives here reading this could you have a look?

Here is the ironwork on the station : 

I would like to thank Chris Flynn for telling me about this one in 2019.

Handyside made lots of railway footbridges around the world, they have a distinctive design. If you find one have a good look around for the Handyside makers badges, they are normally present on cross members or support columns.

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If you know of any items (apart from Post boxes) in the world bearing the Andrew Handyside badge that I have not marked on my world map then please let me know.

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Thanks
Andy