Footbridge at King's Cross Railway Station, London was made 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 this world famous footbridge which up until December 2008 was located in King's Cross Railway Station, London, UK.

As well as King's Cross footbridge, this bridge has many other names such as The Harry Potter Bridge, Handyside bridge.

Update for June 2013 : This bridge is now open at Ropely, Hampshire. See my video here.

King's Cross Footbridge is a Grade I listed structure built in Derby in 1892 by Andrew Handyside and installed at Kings Cross in 1893.

In 2008, as part of a major redevelopment of Kings Cross, the footbridge had to be dismantled and removed. English Heritage and the London Borough of Camden, as Planning Authority, stipulated that Network Rail should find a suitable alternative use for the footbridge. This alternative use has now been found at Mid-Hants Railway, Watercress Line, Alresford, Hampshire.

www.watercressline.co.uk

The Handyside footbridge used to run across the main station train shed, between platform 1 on the E side and platform 8 on the W side. This structure, approximately 66m long, and is made of composite lattice girders with diagonal straps and it is supported by cast iron columns with octagonal bases on all platforms except on platforms 7-6. Although it only linked platforms 1 and 8, the presence of gates within the south parapet in line with the intermediate platforms suggest staircases were once present to allow access to these.

A clock was situated directly over platform 8, with two large clock faces, to N and S, fixed above the faces of the bridge, driven via a rod by a clock mechanism housed inside the W range of buildings nearby. The West side of the footbridge was constructed in 1892 and has makers plates "A. Handyside & Co. of Derby and London" The East half of the bridge looks like an addition, or else a replacement. Perhaps the western half, if built first,was to connect only departure platforms, which the clock would also have served, when trains arrived at and departed from different platforms in the two halves of the station.

A new hope for the Handyside footbridge.

Currently (Nov 2011) the bridge is being shot blasted and will be installed at a heritage railway site in Mid-Hants. The plans for the bridge are based on 1/2 the bridge crossing the Mid Hants Railway’s main line, yard shunt road and two tracks into a new workshop i.e. 4 in total, with the second half creating a walkway from the end of the first bit to the entrance to viewing galleries in the workshop where we will place most of the interpretation materials. It could well be 6 months before this is complete.

I would like to thank David Snow and Elissa May at Mid Hants Railway watercressline for their help and information.

Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone :

On this footbridge is where Hagrid was filmed giving Harry his first Hogwarts Express ticket in the well known 2001 film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

For many years the trellis lattice work was covered along the inside of the bridge by fiberglass panels, these were removed for the film. Fans of Harry Potter used to visit this bridge so they could stand where Harry was when he was given his special ticket. See my images lower down of this bridge as seen in the Harry Potter film.

Photographs

Long Panoramic photograph of the entire King's Cross footbridge when it was still in location.







"A. Handyside" makers plaque on the stairs in Kings Cross Station.



A Handyside badge on one of the footbridge supports.


Video
A time-lapse video showing the removal of this footbridge in 2008



King's Cross bridge removal time-lapse from NCE Magazine on Vimeo.

Handyside bridge as seen in the Harry Potter film:







Photographs of the bridge in its new location:
Awaiting restoration before installation at the Watercress line.


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.

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

Shoe Lane road bridge, Holborn Viaduct, London Built by Andrew Handyside in 1869.

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 while investigating some other work by Andrew Handyside I found a bridge with some lions heads on it and wondered if it was by Andrew Handyside so had a real good look around and managed to find a makers badge on one of the panels. It reads "A. Handyside & Co Britannia Foundry Derby". This bridge is located on Holborn Viaduct and goes over Shoe Lane.

Photographs of this bridge.
A vew of the decorative panels on the top of this bridge as seen from the A40.


Another view of the decorative panels showing the 3D lions heads.


One of the decorative cast iton Lions Heads


A view underneath from Shoe Lane


Another view showing the construction of the bridge from underneath


The decorative cast iron scrolls


The makers badge "A. Handyside & Co Britannia Foundry 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 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

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.



A view from the centre platform showing 10 bridge stanchions.


A view showing the construction of the road bridge from underneath.


Decorative Handyside ironwork.


Andrew Handyside makers badge on the bridge stanchions:


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 

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


Photograph showing the complete wall box.


Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, 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

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

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


My photo from Chelsea end of the end of the bridge.


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




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 

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


Photograph showing the complete wall box.


Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, 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

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.


A view of the top of the lamp post with the ornate decoration.


A close up of the finely detailed casting on this lamppost. Showing the Borough Council crest of arms.


A close up of the Andrew Handyside badge and year of manufacture.


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

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

Pillar Box in London Zoological Gardens made by Andrew Handyside between 1887-1901

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 the grounds of London Zoological Gardens.
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 has been converted to a money box, you can put money in the slot to donate to the Tiger SOS charity : http://www.zsl.org/tiger-sos/

What a great paint job they have done to this Handyside box!!

Photograph of the amazing paint job :

Photograph by Sludgegulper.

As you can see this box used to be orange in 2005, I prefer the new paint job to this one as
its much more eye catching.

Photograph by PSD.

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.

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

Roof of former St Enoch Railway Station, Glasgow, Scotland, UK Built by Andrew Handyside in 1876 (now Demolished).

NOTE : This no longer exists! It was completely demolished in 1977. A real shame.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made the Structural steelwork and cast-ironwork for many Railway Stations around the world and they were made right here in Derby at the Britannia Ironworks. Some of their railway stations are still in use today while others have been converted into buildings for a different function.
Unfortunately this station was one of many that was demolished but luckily there are photographs that we can look at to see what it was like. The station was built for the city of glasgow Union Railway.

The roof of the former St Enoch Railway Station was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside. The main roof had a span of 205ft [62.5m] and a length of 525ft [160.1m], and is of wrought iron, covering six platforms.
The arch-ribs bare the date 1877and makers stamps "Andrew Handyside & Co. Ltd. of Derby and London"
The roof over the southern extension 1901 was of similar but smaller arched form, being 293 ft 7 ins (89.48m) long, 65 ft (19.81m) high, and having an internal clear span of 143 ft (43.6m)

St Enoch Station was Glasgow's equivalent to London' St Pancras railway station (Which was built by The Butterley Company in 1867, also a Derbyshire company).
In 1880 St Enoch Railway Station was Scotland's premier passenger terminal!

St Enoch station closed in June 1966. It was convered into a car park for many years and eventually demolished in the 1977

This whole area was cleared in the late 1970s and a shopping centre was built on this land in the late 1980s.
The St Enoch Shopping Centre was officially opened in 1989 and redeveloped in 2009.
St Enoch Shopping Centre website : www.st-enoch.co.uk

Photographs of the former St Enoch Railway Station.
1) Nice view from above showing the two large roof structures built by Andrew Handyside.

Photograph by Hollowhorn.

2) A view inside of the roof in 1973 when it was used as a car park.

Photograph by Gordon Haws.

3) Another view of the Handyside roof structure when the station as used as a car park.

Photograph by Gordon Haws.

4) Amazing photo from 1936 of a steam with the Handyside roof in the background.

Photograph by 53A Models.

More photographs :
North Train Shed Plaque "Andrew Handyside 1877".

Looking out from the station on the last day  of operation, June 26th 1966.

Looking at the main roof from the central platform in June 1966.

Lots of photographs of the former station.

A Video:
See the roof of the former station in this old video footage:
St Enoch Railway Station


Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this railway station 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.
Here is a Google Streetview of St Enoch Shopping Centre which was built on the land of the former St Enoch Railway Station.

Can you help find more Andrew 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

Andrew Handyside Iron work at Middlesbrough Railway Station built in 1877.

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.
Here is a recent discovery in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, UK. Here at Middlesbrough Railway station you will find lots of decorative ironwork by Handyside, including lots of coumns with the company badge on it. I would like to thank Ian Stubbs for finding this station for me and taking lots of photographs.

The railway station was officially opened in 1877 for passengers but goods trains were used by the Evening Gazette to distribute its newspapers before that date. The present station was designed by the North Eastern Railway's principal architect William Peachey and it was described at the time as one of the largest and finest on the North Eastern system. The original building boasted an ornate arched roof which was infamously destroyed by the Luftwaffe in 1942. The building was repaired and remains today as one of the few remaining Victorian public buildings in Middlesbrough.

Photographs of Andrew Handyside Iron work at Middlesbrough Railway Station:

1) Over 40 Handyside roof support columns in this station !


2) Andrew Handyside makers badge on base of column.


3) A highly decorated capital on support column.


4)A highly decorated Handyside roof support column.


5) Decorative ironwork near roof.


6) Decorative filler ironwork


7) Wrought Iron panels by Andrew Handyside? on Albert Bridge.


Ian has taken lots more photographs of Andrew Handyside ironwork at this station, please see his set here.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this railway station 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 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