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

Pillar Box, Bridge Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon, Ireland made by Andrew Handyside before 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 Ireland and a distinctive green colour and still in use today.
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 is located outside the National Irish Bank on the corner of Bridge Street where it meets Patrick Street. This is in Boyle, County Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland.

Photograph of the green Handyside Pillar Box:

Photograph by Gerry Ward.

Here is a Google Streetview of this Pillar Box.

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.

Google Streetview has captured this Pillar 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

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

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

Findhorn Viaduct in Tomatin, Scotland made by Andrew Handyside in 1897.

Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made many hundreds of bridges of many different sizes around the world such as this impressive viaduct in Scotland which is still in use today.
This stunning bit of engineering by Andrew Handyside is Findhorn Viaduct in Tomatin, Scotland.
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. It was built in Derby in 1897 and transported via Rail.
The engineers for this viaduct were Sir John Fowler, Bart., K.C.M.G., M. Inst. C.E. Murdoch Paterson, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., Inverness.

A great photograph of two steam trains going across Findhorn viaduct :

Photograph by phantomfgr2.

Panoramic photograph showing several of the spans on Findhorn viaduct:

Photograph by Rudeigin Beag.

A close up photograph of one of Handysides 130 foot spans that make up Findhorn viaduct.

Photograph by Roy's in Ireland.

Google Streetview has captured this viaduct which means you can take a good look around the contruction of the spans from several angles. Click my links here - Findhorn Viaduct view 1. Findhorn Viaduct view 2.

My Reference :
Page 11 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

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

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