Decorative Vase at Erewash Museum, Ilkeston, Derbyshire Made by Andrew Handyside

The Derby firm Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby were also famous at the item for making highly decorative cast iron vases, urns and fountains. They were made to such high quality that they were in high demand. Here at Erewash Museum in Ilkeston, Derbyshire is a very fine example of such work.

Have a look at my photographs and you will see how amazingly intricate this cast iron work is.
Just below the large bowl of the vase are busts of Peel, Nelson, Watt, Wellington, Stephenson, Scott, Shakespeare and Milton.

This vase design is No.16 on page 66 of Catalogue C August 1879 of "A illustrated catalogue of fountains and vases, manufactured by Andrew Handyside & Co. Derby" So there are probably many more vases like this out there in the world, do you own one?

Handyside showed this design of vase at the Great exhibition of London in 1851.

This vase is also featured on page 6 of the 1862 Art-Journal catalogue. Which has details about the vase as follows.
"The establishment of Mr Handyside, of Derby - the "Britannia Foundry" - is principally represented by the elegant Iron Case which we have engraved above it. The base is an octagon having eight open-work screens hanging in front of the pedestal, which give it singular lightness and elegance to the entire object. As an example of the taste and improvement which characterises the iron manufactures of our own country, we believe our readers will consider this work deserving of much beter attention: It is an excellent design, as excellently worked out, and reflects credit on the establishment from which it has emanated - one that from the magnitude of its operations is second to none in England."

Photographs of the Vase:
Overview of vase


A close view of the entire vase.


View of the very intricate cast iron screen panels.


View looking up underneath the bowl showing the fine decoration.


Shakespeare, One of eight portrait heads on this bowl, these are cast iron!


Show your support for this museum by making a dontation next time you visit.
www.erewashmuseum.co.uk

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

Belcher Drinking Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia made in Derby by Andrew Handyside in 1874.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of decorative fountains. These fountains were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

Andrew Handyside exported many decorative fountains around the world during the Victorian era.
The Britannia Foundry's work was well known for its fine quality so these fountains can be found all over the globe but where exactly they are located is difficult to find out.
Thankfully because of my research here people are beginning to contact me with details of Handyside work, I am then able to add it to my world map. It really helps my research being able to use Flickr to see these items for myself and share these finds with the world!

Right here at the junction of Malop Street and Gheringhap Street in Geelong, Victoria, Australia there proudly stands a great creation by Andrew Handyside. The Belcher Drinking Fountain was presented to the Town of Geelong by retiring Mayor Councillor GF Belcher in 1874.

This particular design of fountain is listed as Design Number 48 on Page 40 of the 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside".This very same fountain (but not in as good condition) can be found in the grounds of St Pancras Old Church in London, UK.

Doesn't it make you feel proud that on the other side of the planet stands this decorative fountain that has clearly been cared for the last 137 years. And to think this was made in Derby and I doubt there are many people in Derby that know this fact, until now that is !!!

Read about George Frederick Belcher (1823-1909).

Photographs of this fountain:

Photograph of Belcher Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia:


Another photograph of Belcher Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia :


Photograph of drinking spouts on the Belcher Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia :


Photograph of cupid figure and lantern on the top of the
Belcher Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia :


Photograph of plaques on the Belcher Fountain in Geelong, Victoria, Australia :


I would like to thank Peter Williams for taking the above photographs for me.

Google Streetview of the Belcher Drinking Fountain in Geelong.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this fountain 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.

Does anyone out there have a short video of this fountain that they care to share on YouTube?


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

Swingbridge at Castletown Harbour, Isle of Man made by Andrew Handyside.

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 swinging footbridge at Castletown Harbour in the Isle of Man which is still in use today.

This footbridge was built in Derby at Britannia Iron works by Andrew Handyside and Company Derby and London in 1903 at a cost of £414. This Victorian bridge is still in constant use 107 years later, moving out of the way to allow boats to enter the harbour.!

Castletown Harbour swingbridge, made in Derby !


Photograph showing the bridge from the side:


Photograph showing the Handyside badge on this bridge:


Photograph showing the Mechanism that moves the bridge:


Photograph showing the walkway over the bridge :

I would like to thank Sue M2009 for taking these photographs for me to add to
my Andrew Handyside group.

Click HERE to see where this bridge is located.

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

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 :


Closer look at the iron roof of the Business Design Centre :


Close up of Handyside's decorative ironwork:


Handyside's Decorative Embellishments on the roof structure :


Through the ironwork, a nice arty shot :


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

Amiens Street Railway Bridge, Dublin made in Derby by Andrew Handyside.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made many hundreds of bridges of many different sizes around the world such as this substantial railway bridge located over Amiens Street in Dublin manufactured in Derby by Andrew Handyside and Company Ltd.
This bridge was made sometime between 1884 and 1903, perhaps someone with local knowledge can provide an exact date.

The Railway Station here today is called Connolly Station, originally it was called Amiens Street Station but changed its name in 1966.

The engineer for this bridge was J. Chaloner Smith, esq., M. Inst. C.E., Dublin. The central span is 97 foot, Width 29 foot. Total Lenght 171 foot. 415 Tons.

Photograph showing the large supports of the bridge.


Photograph showing the bridge going over Amiens Street in Dublin.


Photograph of the decorative markings on the side of the bridge.

I would like to thank William Murphy for taking the photographs of this bridge for me.

Google Streetview of Amiens Street Railway bridge.

My Reference :
Page 17 of Steel & Iron Structures Made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Derby and London. Published 1904.

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

Tan Kim Seng Fountain in Singapore made by Andrew Handyside.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of decorative fountains, they were renowned for their high quality and much sort after around the world. Many examples of their work are still in use today. These fountains were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

The Britannia Foundry established its reputation with ornamental fountains and vases well before
embarking on bridges for Victorian Railway mania. Before Andrew Handyside took over the Britannia Iron works in 1846 it was owned by Weatherhead and Glover, they had become well known for their fine decorative iron work which Handyside developed even further.

One such ornate fountain is located on Esplanade Park in Singapore. It was built in Derby about Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 in 1857 towards building Singapore's first public waterworks to ensure a better supply of fresh water to the town. The Tan Kim Seng Fountain was erected by the Municipal Commissioners to commemorate Tan's donation. The fountain was installed in 1882 in Fullerton Square to perpetuate his name. The fountain was then moved to Battery Road in 1905 and later in 1925 to the Esplanade Park where it now stands as you can see the the photographs below.

This particular design of fountain is listed as Design Number 16 on Page 13 of the 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside".

Photograph of Kim Seng Fountain :

Photograph by Chooyutshing.

Close up detail of a water spout on this fountain :

Photograph by Pancy98.

Photographs of the fountain at night:

Photograph by Pancy98.


Photograph by Pancy98.

Videos of this fountain at night, Videos by Pancy98. :


Close up video of the fountain:


This particular design of fountain can be found in several locations throughout the globe.
If you know of one that I have not mentioned yet or not marked on my Andrew Handyside map then please get in touch.

Thanks
Andy

Cardiff Market built by Andrew Handyside in 1891.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of roofs for buildings incorporating ornate ironwork such as this one here in Cardiff Market also known as Cardiff Central Market.
The market was designed by the Borough Surveyor, William Harpur, and opened in May 1891.
Cardiff Market is "Marchnad Caerdydd" in Welsh.


Excellent HDR photograph showing the Handyside roof of Cardiff Market.

Photograph by Softfun.

Another photograph of Cardiff's Victorian Market.





Photograph of the entrance to Cardiff's Victorian Market.

Photograph by stv.

Click here to see this location on my Andrew Handyside World Map.

For more information on Cardiff Market visit their website : www.cardiff-market.co.uk


My Reference :
A book called Cardiff Central Market 1891-1991 by Philip Riden (Published 1991).

If you know of any Handyside buildings that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details and photographs.

Thanks
Andy

Handyside Blacksmith's Forge at Underfall Yard workshops in Bristol.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of other items such as
Machine tools, Printing Presses, Hydraulic and pneumatic riveters and Forges and they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

At Underfall Yard workshops in Bristol you will find a row of forges in the dock maintenance workshop that were made by Andrew Handyside. See the photograph below.

Photograph of a No5 Handyside Blacksmiths Forge at Underfall Yard workshop, Bristol.

Photograph by Anachrocomputer.

Photograph of a No2 Handyside Blacksmiths Forge at Underfall Yard workshop, Bristol.


If you would like to visit then here is their website : www.underfallboatyard.co.uk
Or learn more on Wikipedia.

Can you help find more Handyside items?
This was quite a lucky find, Do you know of any other Handyside equipment such as this out there?
If so then please get in touch with details and photographs.

Thanks
Andy

Handyside Drinking fountain, horse-trough and lamp standard in Ilkeston Market Place built in 1889

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of Drinking Fountains?
I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

Update for March 2018. I have made a video tour of this fountain...



This three-in-one item is a Drinking fountain, horse-trough and lamp standard which was installed on Ilkeston Market Place in 1889.
Made by Andrew Handyside Ltd at a cost of £46, it was was donated to the town of Ilkeston to commemorate the creation of Ilkeston Borough in 1887.
The Ilkeston drinking fountain was restored in 1980 and again in 2008.
The fountain was Grade II listed on 6 November 1986.

It consists of a Drinking fountain on the front (aiming towards St Marys church), A Horse trough around other three sides and in the middle is a lamp standard with twisted column and top branching to three lanterns.
See the lights lit up here.

Here is a great photograph of the Ilkeston Fountain taken in 2010

Photograph by Redrickshaw.

And another photograph of the fountain, this one shows the detail of the drinking fountain water spout and also the "A. Handyside & Co Ltd" badge just above the water line.

Photograph by Lenton Sands.

A close up of the Handyside badge after restoration (2011):


Next time you visit Ilkeston go and have a look at this fountain, you can't miss it as its on the Market Place. There is another Handyside item in Ilkeston which I will be blogging about very soon so watch this space.

Click here to see this location on Google Maps.

Thanks
Andy

Whatstandwell Railway Station Footbridge made by Andrew Handyside in 1894.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made many hundreds of bridges of many different sizes around the world and also locally such as this one at Whatstandwell Railway Station in Derbyshire.
If you use the footbridge at Whatstandwell railway station then you may not realise that this footbridge was made by Andrew Handyside 117 years ago!
In 2009 this bridge was restored and is looking great now as you can see in my photographs.

My Photograph of the restored Whatstandwell Station Footbridge made by Andrew Handyside.



Next time you use this footbridge take some time to look around at the construction of this bridge.
The Handyside logos can be found on lots of the ironwork, such as at the bottom of all support columns and cross members of the first stairs platform as per my photograph here.

My Photograph of a "A. Handyside & Co Ltd" badge on Whatstandwell Station Footbridge.


360 degree photo : 
See my Google Streetview photo of Whatstandwell Railway Station Footbridge here : 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jwxWsAmFZDDgpAdg7

I have also made a video of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMdNoDeK-LU

 
Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other footbridges at railway stations bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

Thanks
Andy

Andrew Handyside Drinking Fountain at Matlock Bath.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made lots of Drinking Fountains?
I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

This particular drinking fountain was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside in 1881. It is located on the A6 in Matlock Bath opposite the fish pond, The actual fish pond that is rather than the Fish Pond pub.
The design of the drinking fountain is the same at their standard Midland Railway Station design but it has the addition of an animal drinking trough at the base.
I have driven past this fountain for many years but until now had never walked up to see it.

History of this fountain as stated on a plaque to the left of the fountain.

This fountain was erected in 1881 below the now-demolished Royal Hotel, which occupied the area now forming the Temple Road car park.The fountain was restored in 1917 to commermorate the first meeting of Scout leaders in thsi area, held at the Royal Hotel, attended by Lord Baden-Powell. It was again restored in 1935 for King George V's Silver Jubilee.Following reclamation of the surrounding area, it was moved to its current position in 1986, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th birthday. All works were undertaken by the Derbyshire Dales District Council Community program.

My Photograph of the Matlock Bath Drinking Fountain


My Photograph of the makers badge "A. Handyside & Co" located at the top of the Drinking fountain :


This is one of many, both practical and decorative fountains produced at the Britannia Iron Works in Derby by Andrew Handyside and Company.

Next time you visit Matlock Bath take some time to walk up from the hustle bustle of the parade to take a look at this fountain.

Thanks
Andy

Friar Gate Bridge covered in safety netting.

In early December 2010 Derby City Council had to cover Frair Gate Bridge in netting amid concerns that parts of the bridge could come loose !
"Debris containment netting" was installed which will stop pedestrians and motorists getting hit by bits of iron work should they fall of it.

If you have not seen how the bridge looks now then here are two photographs I too recently.



And another of Friar Gate Bridge covered in netting  :



Its a real shame that funding has not been found yet to get this bridge restored.

Videos featuring items manufactured in Derby at the Britannia Iron works.

For those of you who don't know, Britannia Iron Works was where Andrew Handyside manufactured bridges, Fountains, Post Boxes etc. The foundry was located adjacent to the River Derwent where today Rivermead House Stands.
Want more info then view my map showing Britannia Iron Works location.
I have created a dedicated playlist on YouTube of videos that feature items that have been made in Derby.
You will find all sorts of stuff  in my collection

Click the link here to see the collection.
Video collection featuring items made by Andrew Handyside.

Findhorn Viaduct
Here is one of my favourites showing a train going across a bridge made in Derby 114 years ago !
This short video features a stunning bit of engineering by Handyside, That of Findhorn Viaduct in Tomatin, Scotland, UK.
This bridge was manufactured in Derby at the Britannia Iron Works by Andrew Handyside ltd and company in 1897.
It has seven spans of 130 foot and two spans of 125 foot. A total length of 1,160 foot. It weighs 1,730 Tons.
The engineers on this project were Sir John Fowler, Bart., K.C.M.G., M. Inst. C.E. Murdoch Paterson, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., Inverness.

My Reference information for this is :
Page 11 of Steel & Iron Structures Made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Derby and London. Published 1904.



Hope you enjoy all the Andrew Handyside videos I have collected here.
If you live near something made by Handyside and are able to make a video on YouTube then please get in touch and I will add it to my collection.

Thanks
Andy

Friar Gate Bridge and Andrew Handyside.

Welcome to my first ever blog post on the Friar Gate Bridge Blog. 

I decided to create this dedicated blog to compliment my Friar Gate Bridge feature on www.derbyphotos.co.uk, This will enable me to get content online quickly that relates to this bridge. I may still post some Friar Gate bridge items on my main blog but the blog here is entirely dedicated to the bridge and Andrew Handyside.

If you live in Derby then, I am sure you are aware that the bridge is in a very poor state at the moment. 

In December 2010 the council had to cover the bridge in a protective netting to contain any possible bits of falling iron work from the rotting structure.

In summer 2010 I started researching the manufacturer of the bridge and have unearthed so much interesting information that I will be publishing on here in time. I have invested many hundreds of hours of my spare time into cataloguing and documenting as much information as possible.

Hopefully once I have collated all the information it will make the people of Derby realise just how important this bridge is and also how important the Company Andrew Handyside Ltd was to not only the City of Derby but the World !!

You will end up very proud of this man and all he has achieved.

Keep your eye on this blog to see how it develops, why not follow me.

Thanks

Andy