Former New Brighton Tower, Wallasey, Merseyside, UK Built by Andrew Handyside in 1896 (now Demolished).

NOTE : This no longer exists! It was completely demolished in 1919.

Update : October 2022, Darren of the YouTube channel AdventureMe has made a really interesting and details video about this wonderful structure, highly recommend you watch it :

https://youtu.be/Z27vSyceY4Y

You may have seen this on Episode 7 of the BBC2 TV Series "Britain's First Photo Album - Liverpool to Blackpool" shown on Tuesday 20th March 2012.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made the Structural steelwork and cast-ironwork for many buildings around the world and they were made right here in Derby at the Britannia Ironworks.

The New Brighton Tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower (Paris, 1889) and built as the centre of a popular amusement park and pleasure garden. Located near Liverpool in Wallasey, Merseyside.

At the time, this was the highest structure in England !

It was begun in 1896, finished about 1900 at a cost of £120,000. The architects were Maxwell and Turk of Manchester

According to my 1904 guide published by Andrew Handyside the tower was 574 Foot high (From the ground to the top of the Cooper Ball on the flag-staff) and the base was 143 foot wide.

The weight of Steel used in the Tower is 1,760 Tons
The weight of Steel in the buildings surrounding the tower is 650 Tons.
Handyside designed it with an octagonal cross-sectional design unlike the simple square plan used on Blackpool Tower (518 feet, built 1894).

In the building which surrounded the base of the tower was a ballroom and other popular assembly spaces.

The tower had four lifts to take sightseers to the top of the structure at a cost of 6d.
From there you could see for miles around including the Isle of Man, part of the Lake District and the Welsh Mountains. The Tower attracted a half a million people in its opening year.
During the first world war the steel structure was neglected and became rusty through lack of maintenance and the cost of renovating was more than the owner could afford.

The top portion of the structure commenced to be dismantled on 7th May 1919 and was completed by June 1921 (see the photographs below)
The brick portion comprising of the Ballroom and Theatre remained, together with the turrets. During the Second World War the basement was used as a communal air-raid shelter.
The remaining parts of the surrounding buildings were destroyed by fire in 1969, the entire area was redeveloped as River View Park. Nothing remains of this site.


Photographs of this Victorian Tower built by Andrew Handyside.


Photograph by Noctorum.

Photograph by Andrew Handyside at the time of construction of the lower section of the tower from 1897 :

1912 Souvenir Guide for the New Brighton Tower and Amusement Park.

Photograph by Noctorum.

New Brighton Tower Guide Cover.

Photograph by Noctorum.

Photograph showing the tower during its demolition 1919-1921.

Photograph by Les Ward.

A video "Wallasey - New Brighton Tower's Rise & Fall"
From 1897 to 1969, when the Tower met its final demise. This short pictoral history video captures what has gone and in many ways been forgotten.

Video by Parapiranha.

Learn more about New Brighton Tower here :
http://www.liberator31.co.uk/wallasey/towergrounds/index.html


My Reference :
Page 38 of Steel & Iron Structures Made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd of Derby and London. Published 1904.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the original exact location of this tower 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 items 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

Ironwork by Andrew Handyside at Hartlepool Railway station, County Durham.

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 County Durham, UK. Here at Hartlepool railway station you will find lots of decorative ironwork by Handyside.

I would like to thank Ian Stubbs for finding this station for me.

Photographs of the Handyside ironwork in this station.

The platform at Hartlepool railway station:

Photograph by Saltburn line users.

Victorian Spandrel showing the great detail cast by Andrew Handyside.

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

Decorative Handyside Capital

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

Roof support column showing Handyside makers badge

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

Andrew Handyside makers name on base of pillar

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

Several roof columns by Handyside:

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

Ornate pillar and roof supports.

Photograph by Ian Stubbs.

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

Tucuman Railway Station in Argentina, South America built by Andrew Handyside in 1889.

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 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, South America.

This is Tucuman Railway Station or Terminal station of the General Railroad Mitre (Former Argentinean Central Railroad). In Spanish that is Estación Terminal del Ferrocarril General Mitre.

This railway station is 6709 miles away from Derby where it was manufactured. That distance is "as the crow flies" so it would have travelled much further than that when it was delivered.
The station is absolutely full of Handyside's ironwork from the roof, support columns and decorative ironwork. Its amazing to see this local ironwork on the other side of the planet.

The station was inaugurated on 6^th February 1891 when the first train arrived the from Buenos Aires after a 32 hour journey. The original name of this railway station was “Sunchales”.

Here is a selection of photographs taken in june 2011. I would like to thank Cecilia Laskowski for taking these photographs and Lucía Juárez for her assistance.
I have also recently been told about yet another Handyside railway station in Argentina, which is in Santiago Del Estero which I hope to post about at some point in the future.

Photographs of Tucuman Railway Station:


Very decorative ironwork roof supports by Handyside.


The Handyside ironwork in the car park.


Close up of the roof structure.


View of the support columns with Handyside badges


Ornate cast iron decoration on the top of a column.


A view of the platforms and Handyside roof structure.


A long row of Handyside support columns.


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

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

Restored Andrew Handyside Fountain at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, Australia.

Today, 28th May 2011 marks the First anniversary of the unveiling of a restored fountain at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, Australia. This fountain was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside and has a nice commemorative plaque stating the fact it was made in Derby.

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 and this blog. It really helps my research being able to use Flickr to see these items for myself and share these finds with the world!
Here is one such find, this particular one is quite unique as its been restored to its former glory only last year.

This particular design of fountain is listed as Design Number 15 on Page 30 of the 1879 publication "An Illustrated book of Designs for Fountains and Vases, costing from £1 to £1200 manufactured by Andrew Handyside". 

The following information and photographs were given to me by Peter Jenkinson in Australia.
In the mid 1860s Miss Mary Field built a verandahed colonial house on the hill above the house known as Finnisbrook, on the south side of Burnside Village.  Finnisbrook was named after Boyle Travers Finnis, the first Premier of South Australia.  He built the house in the 1840s, where First Creek left Waterfall Gully.  Miss Field supervised the planting of extensive orchards, vineyards and gardens.  She sold the property in 1878 to William John Coote, a retired draper, who put a great deal of work into developing a picturesque garden, watered from First Creek by the first oil powered pump in Adelaide.
It is likely that William Coote would have ordered the fountain from the 1874 Handyside catalogue.
In 1969, Mr & Mrs Edward T. Easling bought the land on which the fountain sat, in 2009 the fountain was offered to the college by Mr John Easling and was lovingly restored to its former glory as you can see in the photographs here.

Pupils at Prince Alfred College watch the restored fountain come to life in May 2010 :


A view of the restored fountain in the grounds of Prince Alfred College.


Commemorative plaque of this fountain clearly showing Derby !!!:


The three Baroque style dolphins undergoing Restoration:


The two cherubs (putti) embrace the torch which delivers water from the fountain head.


The fountain measures 180 cm in height, being 90 cm high to the dolphin tails.  The maximum diameter of the bowl is 101 cm.

This Handyside fountain is Design No 15 in their 1874 catalogue.


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.


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.

Hope you enjoyed learning about this restoration project on the other side of the planet.

Thanks
Andy

Handyside Fountain in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, South America.

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".

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.

This particular design of 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".There is one of the same design in Temple Newsam gardens in Leeds.

I would like to thank Lucia Juarez of Tucuman, Argentina for informing me about this fountain. She has done some research and found this..
 “On the 27th August 1872, the Council (of San Miguel de Tucuman) resolved that the two biggest fountains stored in the deposits would be located to the North and South sections in the Independence Square“.  There is onlt one fountain on this square today so not sure where the other one has gone.

This excellent looking fountain located at Plaza Independencia (Fuente de Plaza Independencia) , San Miguel de Tucuman in Argentina and was manufactured by Andrew Handyside and Comapny of Derby.

As you can tell by the photographs the locals have really taken care of this fountain.

Night time photograph of the fountain in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina :


Close up view of the fine detail at the top of this fountain :


Photograph showing the "A. Handyside" badge at the base.


Wide angle view of this fountain:


Another view of this fountain :



I found a 360 degree Photograph of Plaza de la independecia HERE, a green square will show for a while then change to a photo, if you now right click on it and select "view fullscreen" then pan around using the mouse to drag the view, you can see the Handyside fountain in this square.

In fact I see you can even send a photo postcard of the Handyside fountain from their Tourist info website.

The "Plaza de la independecia" is a little square which is surrounded by the following roads San Martin, Munecas, Av 24 de September and 25 de Mayo. The Tucumán Tourist Information centre overlooks this square.


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

Railings around the Parliment Buildings in Barbados made in Derby by Andrew Handyside.

The Barbados Parliment buildings were completed in 1874, a masterpiece of Gothic Architecture, built of local coral limestone, strategically placed in the heart of the Capital, Bridgetown, these buildings house the House of Assembly and the Senate.
The buildings are surrounded by some ornate railings that were made right here in Derby by Andrew Handyside and Company Ltd.



Closer photograph showing the ornate details :


I would like to thank Kammie Holder in Barbados for taking this photograph for me.

You can read more about the history of these buildings in Barbados on their website :
www.barbadosparliament.com
Where it mentions the railings from Derby !

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

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