Key dates relating to the Britannia Iron Works and Andrew Handyside inc Wetherhead and Glover, Thomas Wright, Anastasia, Alexander Buchanan

Having researched everything to do with Andrew Handyside for 19 years I thought it would be handy to create a simple bullet list of key dates relating to the Britannia Iron Works and Andrew Handyside. Here it is : 

► 1805 25th July Andrew Handyside born in Edinburgh (To Hugh Handyside & Margaret Baird)

► 1818 Messrs Wetherhead and Glover established The Britannia Foundry, Duke Street, Derby.

► 1822 Andrew Handyside moved to St Petersburg, Russia to work with uncle Charles Baird.

► 1839 Andrew Handyside Married Anastasia Henley in St Petersburg, Russia.

► 1844 Andrew & Anastasia Handyside moved to England at 35 Ashbourne Road, Derby.

► 1845 September Thomas Wright takes over The Britannia Foundry.

► 1845 29th October Thomas Wright died, age 42.

► 1846 18th March Britannia Foundry buildings for sale.

► 1847 21st June Andrew Handyside takes over The Britannia Foundry.

► 1873 Alexander Buchanan became the Managing Director of the firm.

► 1887 9th June Andrew Handyside died from bronchitis, age 81.

► 1891 Anastasia Handyside moved to Twickenham.

► 1900 Anastasia Handyside moved to The Manor House at Elmswell, Suffolk.

► 1904 Site enlarged to include new Clarke street works, alongside Duke street and Fox street works.

► 1910 16th November Anastasia Handyside died, age 89.

► 1910 28th September Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd went into voluntary liquidation.

► 1915 A new company of the same name Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd was registered 

► 1923 24th August again went into voluntary liquidation.

► 1924 Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd was again used to register a company.

► 1931 13th April this final version of the company also went into voluntary liquidation.

► 1931 11th May Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Britannia Iron Works was acquired by Derby Castings Limited.

► 1933 Derby Castings ltd went into liquidation.

► 1936 February The Duke Street works were demolished, all buildings were demolished nothing survived to this day.

► 1936 Handyside Street and Buchanan Street built in honour of the two directors of the foundry.

► 1978 The former GNR railway bridge over Derwent named Handyside Bridge in honour.

► 2007 August I started my research into Andrew Handyside.

► 2007 November created a petition to restore Friar Gate bridge.

► 2011 February 2011 I started my Andrew Handyside blog.

► 2026 March I started my Andrew Handyside Facebook Group.

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Here is a very rare photograph of their Plate shop looking south taken in 1904. Look at all that ironwork destined for places around the world, I wonder where they are located now?

Peel Street bridge, Bristol made by Andrew Handyside 1878

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby made hundreds of bridges across the globe, here is a bridge made in the same year as Friar Gate bridge that I went to see on a recent visit to Bristol.

Peel Street bridge, Saint Pauls/Judes, Bristol, UK.

This bridge was designed by Frederick Ashmead and made by Andrew Handyside of Derby in 1878. It has a span of 49 feet and it is 25 feet wide.

It was reported in the Western Daily Press on 2nd January 1878 that the tender from Messrs Handyside had been accepted.

The bridge was built to connect the new communities in the area, spanning across the River Frome.

The bridge was opened in October 1878 and is still in use by pedestrians and cyclists 148 years later.

It originally connected the former Peel Street to Wellington Road and Monk Street, Its a lattice girder bridge, made from semi-circular upper chords of wrought iron.

Today this is only used as a footbridge, connecting Riverside Park to Peel Street Green Space. Riverside Park was established in 1975.

Peel Street disappeared when the area was redeveloped and the M32 and A4032 were built as you can see in the "then and now" section of my video.

The Frome Valley Walkway runs alongside the River Frome here.

In the "then and now" view I have used two vertical top-down photographs of a location, one taken by the RAF in the 1940's and one from Google Maps Satellite view, I have 

lined them up precisely with each other so that you can watch as it fades back and forth to reveal what has changed in the decades that have passed between the two views.

As you can clearly see there has been significant changes with lots of the streets demolished. On the far left is the former St Paul's church, built 1794 but since 2004 the home of Circomedia. 

Old map link to this area : https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19.1&lat=51.46217&lon=-2.57787&layers=117746211&b=ESRIWorld&o=100

Please share this post to anyone you think would be interested.

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.

Join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group :

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View my Andrew Handyside world map : 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&mid=1OAACWtSS9PyrJqZ5Ebpy1yb527nkRFk7&ll=52.90829433369387%2C-1.4515525777722327&z=10

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View my Andrew Handyside video playlist : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6EmDnqQPU&list=PLA6EB1C556ABA75AF

Thanks

Andy

Video markers :
0:00 How the bridge looked in 1878
0:05 How it looks in 2026

0:09 Views of the roadway and north parapet of bridge
0:22 Views of the south parapet of bridge
0:32 view of the substructure of the bridge viewed from the south side
0:49 Views of the north parapet of bridge
0:59 An 1890 map of the bridge and surrounding streets
1:11 The and now view from 1946 to 2026

Millers Dale Viaduct, Derbyshire, UK 1860's

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby made loads of different viaducts around the world that are still in place today such as this one in the Peak District.

Millers Dale Viaduct which opened on 30th May 1863, today this is part of the Monsal Trail.

This viaduct was built by Andrew Handyside for the Midland Railway in Derbyshire's Wye Valley to help connect London and Manchester. Built between 1862 and 1863 (opening in 1863) as part of a challenging Peak District rail route. It carried trains over the River Wye and served nearby Millers Dale Station to link passengers to Buxton and transport local goods like limestone.

Each iron arch consists of five offset ribs with lattice-work struts filling the spandrels (the triangular space between the arch curve and the deck), Features three wrought iron segmental arches, each with a 95-foot span.

In 1905 because of increased traffic, The Butterley Company erected a second viaduct right next to the Handyside one. The aim was for the old viaduct to take slower trains and for the new viaduct to take faster ones.

It stood alone as a single track until a second parallel viaduct opened in 1905 to handle rising traffic. 

It shut down in July 1968 following the Beeching-era railway cuts, now a popular walking route of the Monsal Trail.

So now you know, there are two Millers Dale Viaducts next to each other, the original one by Handyside and the newer one by The Butterly Company.

Map location for this first viaduct :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ChYbpKL8gYUbfJsE9

Please share this post to anyone you think would be interested.

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.

Join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group :
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View my Andrew Handyside world map : 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&mid=1OAACWtSS9PyrJqZ5Ebpy1yb527nkRFk7&ll=52.90829433369387%2C-1.4515525777722327&z=10

Follow my Andrew Handyside Blog :
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Thanks

Andy

Derby Castings Limited took over Andrew Handyside Limited 1931, here is the letter from them showing the takeover.

Being a Andrew Handyside researcher for 19 years I've managed to collect a vast range of unique very rare items such as this letter from 11th May 1931, This shows when Derby Castings Ltd took over the Britannia Iron Works on Duke Street from Andrew Handyside ltd.

Here is a transcript of what the letter says :

"Dear Sirs,

We have pleasure in informing you that we have acquired as a going concern the business of Messrs. Andrew Handyside & Co., Ltd., of Britannia Iron Works, Derby.

We intend to carry on and improve the existing trade in high grade Grey Iron and Malleable Iron Castings.

The new Board of Directors are instituting very considerable improvements and alterations to the works in order to give the present and new customers the best possible service.

We trust that you will continue to give the new Company your esteemed patronage, in which case we can assure you that every effort will be made to give you entire satisfaction.

Yours faithfully,

FOR DERBY CASTINGS LIMITED.
A. N. B. Stewart
DIRECTOR"

Here is a quick history of the Britannia Iron Works, Derby :

► 1818 Messrs Wetherhead and Glover established The Britannia Foundry, Duke Street, Derby.
► 1847 21st June Andrew Handyside took over The Britannia Foundry.
► 1904 Site enlarged to include new Clarke street works, alongside Duke street and Fox street works.
► 1910 28th September Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd went into voluntary liquidation.
► 1915 A new company of the same name Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd was registered which went into voluntary liquidation on 24th August 1923.
► 1924 Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd was again used to register a company, this final version of the company also went into voluntary liquidation on 13th April 1931.
► 1931 11th May Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Britannia Iron Works was acquired by Derby Castings Limited as you can see in this letter.
► 1933 Derby Castings ltd went into liquidation.
► 1936 February The Duke Street works were demolished, all buildings were demolished nothing survived to this day.

Derby Castings Ltd cast wall boxes and lamp boxes for Royal Mail between 1931 and 1933. The 50 Type D and 75 Type E pillar boxes (large and small oval boxes incorporating a stamp vending machine) were also cast by Derby Castings Ltd.
See my enhanced photograph below of a wall box I found made by Derby Castings Ltd in what was originally Mickleover Post office at 22 Western Road, Derby (today a Premier Store). 

You can see at the base of the post box it says "Derby Castings Limited, Derby". I have also found another local one in the wall of Willington Post Office, Derbyshire and one in Allestree on Duffield Road.

Google Streetview of the Mickleover Derby Castings wall box : https://maps.app.goo.gl/bTe3ftaxw2VfEwvR9

Please share this post to anyone you think would be interested.

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.

Join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group :
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View my Andrew Handyside world map :
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&mid=1OAACWtSS9PyrJqZ5Ebpy1yb527nkRFk7&ll=52.90829433369387%2C-1.4515525777722327&z=10

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Thanks
Andy

Outwood Viaduct, near Radcliffe Greater Manchester made by Andrew Handyside 1881

Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby made lots of bridges and viaducts around the world, here is one such example near Manchester.

A couple of months ago I made a special trip to see Outwood Viaduct, near Radcliffe Greater Manchester.

The viaduct was built in 1881 by Andrew Handyside and Company of Derby, this was a very late use of cast iron for such a purpose. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway replaced the timber decking in 1923. The railway closed in 1966 and the bridge fell into disuse.

The bridge was restored as part of a project to reclaim disused industrial land for community use and converted into a walking and cycling trail. It was re-opened on 25th June 1999 by Sir William McAlpine, the president of the Railway Heritage Trust. It is now owned by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.

I made two trips especially to see Outwood viaduct which was a total of 252 miles there and back. A difficult one to capture as the banks of the Irwell are completely lined with well established trees and access down to the river banks is near impossible. So my second visit was with my drone which allowed me to get these great shots of it.

Best watched on a large smart TV as it's recorded in 4K with nice music.

Join my dedicated Andrew Handyside Facebook group to see all the hundreds of items around the world that I have found, so far I have mapped out 101 bridges, 44 fountains, 34 railway stations and I have loads more to research.

Hope you enjoy my video of yet another incredible bit of engineering made in Derby.

Link to my video :

High Road Leytonstone railway bridge, Leytonstone, Waltham Forest, London, UK 1893 made by Andrew Handyside

 Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby also made bridges for lots of railway stations around the world, here is one such example in London.

High Road Leytonstone railway bridge, Leytonstone, Waltham Forest, London, UK 1893

This railway bridge was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside Ltd in 1893.

The London Overground railway line that runs on this bridge today is known as the Suffragette Line, previously Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN) and before that as Tottenham and Forest Gate Railway.

The Tottenham and Forest Gate Railway Act 1890 and built as joint venture between the Midland Railway and the London, Tilbury and 

Southend Railway. It officially opened on 1 July 1894 with passenger service commencing eight days later and was taken over entirely by the Midland Railway in 1912.

Until 2011 the south side of the bridge was painted with a colourful mural.

Handyside had the contract for lots of bridges on this line aside from High Road Leytonstone they also made the bridges over Skeltons Lane, Hainault Road, Lancaster Road, Samson Road, Acacia Road, Montague Road, Harrow Road, Call Hall Road, Ramsay Road, Thorpe Road, Pevensey Road, Vansittart Road and Strode Road.

Network Rail have already replaced some of those 130 year old bridges as part of an upgrade in 2013 but you can still see them on Google Streetview by setting the date back to 2012.

Network Rail announced in July 2026 that they will be replacing four more Handyside bridges on this line :

Talbot Road, Stracey Road, Strode Road and Latimer Road railway bridges will be demolished in late 2026 installation of the new spans in spring 2027.

The project is due to be completed by late summer 2027 and these new bridges are expected to last until 2150.

Please share this post to anyone you think would be interested.

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.

Join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/andrewhandyside

View my Andrew Handyside world map : 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&mid=1OAACWtSS9PyrJqZ5Ebpy1yb527nkRFk7&ll=52.90829433369387%2C-1.4515525777722327&z=10

Follow my Andrew Handyside Blog :

https://friargatebridge.blogspot.com/

Join my Andrew Handyside Flickr group : 

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1531851@N22/

View my Andrew Handyside video playlist : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6EmDnqQPU&list=PLA6EB1C556ABA75AF

Thanks

Andy

Youngstorget Fountain, Youngstorget Square, Oslo, Norway (A replica Handyside fountain made by "street castings Ltd" of Raynesway Derby in 1996)

 Youngstorget Fountain, Youngstorget Square, Oslo, Norway (A replica Handyside fountain made by "street castings Ltd" of Raynesway Derby in 1996)

Here is a perfect example of why it's important to do plenty of research. In Youngstorget Square, Oslo, Norway there is what looks like a Andrew Handyside fountain but the reality is that it’s a replica of the 1862 Stavanger Fountain in Norway which is a Handyside one.

Youngstorget did actually have a Handyside fountain gifted in 1873, it survived until World War II, German forces removed the fountain in 1942 and threw it into the sea in Oslo’s harbour.

Here is a photograph of that original Handyside fountain from the 1920's : 

It was never recovered or located. During the square’s redevelopment in the 1990s, the city decided to restore its old fountain and asked a Derby firm to help.

The replica in Youngstorget Square was made in 1996 by Street Castings, Raynesway, Derby. So it's quite interesting that it was actually also made in Derby!

This replica Handyside fountain is listed as Design Number 19 on Page 18 of the 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside".

Here is a news article about this replica fountain published 30 years ago in the Derby Evening Telegraph on 22nd January 1996 :

Firm’s 130-year export for Oslo "FOUNTAIN OF TALENTS"

A FOUNDRY has received a £60,000 order from Norway to recreate a fountain built in Derby more than 130 years ago.

Ernest Swift (37), operations director of Street Castings, Raynesway, Derby, has just returned from a fact-finding mission after the request came from councillors in Oslo.

Distributors working for Street Scene, another branch of the company which mainly sells cast-iron street furniture, were given the request while working in the Scandinavian city.

Oslo councillors were envious of a fountain in another Norwegian town, Stavanger, and wanted to recreate it in their capital city.

They discovered the fountain in Stavanger was originally built in 1862 by A. Handyside and Co, of Chester Green.

Managing director of Street Scene, David Thorpe, said: “When the people in Oslo found out, they thought it would be an excellent idea to get their new fountain done here.

“They knew the Stavanger one had been built in Derby and thought it would be a nice idea to get it done in the same city as it was going to be a copy.”

Mr Swift flew to Stavanger with a designer to take pictures of the fountain and make initial sketches.

He added: “We want to make the Oslo fountain as near to the original as possible and it has been quite a job, but we think the finished product will be excellent.”

When the fountain is finished the Derby Company will arrange for it to be shipped over to Norway.

By the time it is installed the total bill for the Oslo council will be close to £100,000.

The order will not create any new jobs. However, Mr Thorpe said: “We have already had two more inquiries from organisations in Norway about our work.”

There are three fountains in Norway, this replica one and two genuine original Handyside ones.

Please share this post to anyone you think would be interested.

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.

Join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/andrewhandyside

View my Andrew Handyside world map :

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en&mid=1OAACWtSS9PyrJqZ5Ebpy1yb527nkRFk7&ll=52.90829433369387%2C-1.4515525777722327&z=10

Follow my Andrew Handyside Blog :

https://friargatebridge.blogspot.com/

Join my Andrew Handyside Flickr group :

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1531851@N22/

View my Andrew Handyside video playlist :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6EmDnqQPU&list=PLA6EB1C556ABA75AF

Thanks

Andy