Monday 7 March 2011

The Business Design Centre, Islington, London built in Derby by Andrew Handyside.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made the Structural steelwork and cast-ironwork for many large buildings around the world and they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works". Some of their buildings are still in use today while others have been converted into buildings for a different function.

The Business Design Centre is an exhibition centre on Upper Street in the district of Islington in London. Originally built as The Royal Agricultural Hall in 1861/1862. It is a Grade II listed building.
The Agricultural Hall, London, was designed by Mr. F. Peck for the cattle shows of the Smithfield Club,
and erected in 1862.
The building is 384 ft. long by 217 ft. wide, and, with the exception of the outer walls, is constructed entirely of iron. The centre roof has a clear span of 125 ft., with the crown of the arch 70 ft. from the ground ; and the side roofs have each a span of 36 ft.

The iron roof of the Business Design Centre :
Vaulted sunrise/set at BDC

Closer look at the iron roof of the Business Design Centre :
@media07 ceiling over exhibition hall, @media07

Close up of Handyside's decorative ironwork:
Ironwork

Handyside's Decorative Embellishments on the roof structure :
Business Design Centre ceiling flower, @media07

Through the ironwork, a nice arty shot :
loop the loop

This building has a Handyside post box in the entrance which I did a post about three weeks ago : Handyside Pillar box inside the Business Design Centre.

This venue has its own website:
www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk

My Reference :
Page 289 Example No 59
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.

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

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