Textiles and steam - Feb 09

[tarboat]

Popped out for a wander with a mate of mine and visited this old textile mill that hasn't been reported for ages. I really wanted to see the boiler plant and I wasn't disappointed. The mill has been completely stripped and whilst the big spaces are quite iimpressive, it would have been much more interesting if the machinery had still been there.

Wide open spaces with columns.

Quite early on we found this 'body'!

Well, would you?

Much flakiness.

Some of the best remaining original bits.

The boiler fronts. Oil fired, at least in later days.

Instructions for firing up the boilers.

The boiler tops. The lagging has all been removed, probably a good thing as it was most likely asbestos.

This is a Green's Patent Economiser which was designed to heat the boiler feed water using waste gases from the boilers. The chains operated scrapers to keep the flues of the heat exchanger clear. Sadly the maker's plates have been removed.

Finally the enginehouse, empty but magnificent all the same. So far I have been unable to find any details of what the engine was that occupied this space.

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[Neosea]

Those Lancashire boilers are great!

 

[escortmad79]

*measures the kitchen*

Wonder if our landlady would mind me sticking a Lancashire boiler in our kitchen area

 

[tarboat]

*measures the kitchen*

Wonder if our landlady would mind me sticking a Lancashire boiler in our kitchen area

I have seen a house where they had just the firehole end plating of a Lancashire boiler let into the wall. It was one of the earlier makes with a great big curved brass makers plate running around the top quarter of the circle. It looked great!

 

[Foxylady]

The boilers and the Green's patent Economiser are amazing. I bet the end plating let into that house looked fantastic...I was thinking before I read that bit, how great they are.

 

[woody65]

I have seen a house where they had just the firehole end plating of a Lancashire boiler let into the wall. It was one of the earlier makes with a great big curved brass makers plate running around the top quarter of the circle. It looked great!

it was on one of fred dibnahs programes

 

[tarboat]

it was on one of fred dibnahs programes

Yes, that's it. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Sabtr]

Lovely.

Stuff lies smashed everywhere but those big old boilers are still (just!) standing. Particularly liking the walkways above the boilers. The economiser is something I have never seen before. Great stuff.

 

[Lightbuoy]

Wonderful old Lanky Boilers -top notch

The first pics is stunning -how many columns?

Enjoyed looking at this place -A LOT!

Lb :jimlad:

 

[Engineer]

Mill boilers.

Super pics, I can remember two Lancashire boilers working at a local asylum, (Glanrhyd), hand fired.
There were also 3 at Brackla ROF,( mothballed after the war).

Like the start up procedure sign, no PLC or DCS in those days!

 

[Urban-Warrior]

Love the boilers.. an excellent site.. thanks for sharing

 

[escortmad79]

I have seen a house where they had just the firehole end plating of a Lancashire boiler let into the wall. It was one of the earlier makes with a great big curved brass makers plate running around the top quarter of the circle. It looked great!

The legendary Fred Dibnah had one installed in his kitchen too

 

[nursepayne]

Brilliant report Tarboat!You always capture the most amazing places and this is no exeption.The level of decay has got me quite exited as its so hard to come accross places like this in southern England.