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karlelden
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Posted -
03/01/2007
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15:06
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I'm just beginning to explore this amazing website, and I put "engine" in your search engine and came up with a BUNCH of hits. I started looking around and decided you people are living in the tall corn compared with us in the US. I have maybe 2 decent larger stationary steam engines to look at in a 200 mile radius. At first glance I thought you were in Hawg Heaven. Looked to me like you had MANY significant preserved engines.
However, I then came upon a picture of the Leigh Mill engine, went to Google to check it out, and came up with this from 1995:
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba1/ba1news.html
Down past the news about how skulls used to contain brains is this bit of stuff about the Leigh Mill:
"A rare example of an intact traditional spinning-mill, near Wigan in Greater Manchester, is under threat from a proposal to remove the original mill engine from the building.
The early 20th century, listed Grade II* Leigh Mill, with its surviving engine house and engine, is still used as a factory and now manufactures carpets. The owners, Leigh Spinners Ltd, applied for permission to remove the original engine to create more storage space.
Their application went to public inquiry in November, and John Gummer, the Environment Secretary, is expected to decide the matter later this year.
Speaking at the inquiry on behalf of the CBA, Ron Fitzgerald, an industrial archaeologist, said the importance of the 1923 engine was enhanced by its `extremely rare' survival in its original context. `Out of 238 listed mills in the north, only six engines survive,' he said. "
So, does anyone know if this is true? Are there only 6 surviving mill engines? And does anyone know what finally happened to this engine in the Leigh Mill?
Karl
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Replies |
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 17:37
Frank, It's brilliant, buy it now....... Geoff is the bloke I go to when I'm asked about an engine I have no knowledge of.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
softsuvner
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 21:23
Frank
I bought it some time ago, must have been very much a labour of love. If you are interested in textile history or the engines, it is a must. It left me with some interesting insights. Amazing how many mill fires there were. Also just how much movement of machinery there was, as people moved their groups of looms from mill to mill chasing a lower rent.
Malcolm
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frankwilk
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 21:47
Thanks for the input looks like a visit to amazon in the morning. I will need to keep a low profile at home, bought 4 books so far this week !!!
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
TOM PHILLIPS
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 22:12
Frank,you should buy it the wife for xmas,iam sure she'll appreciate it,
"Work,the curse of the drinking class" |
pluggy
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 23:13
The Textlie Mills of Pendle and their Steam Engines ?
Need computer work ? "http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
TOM PHILLIPS
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 23:19
Hehe,well spotted Pluggy,I wonder if the spelling mistake is on the front cover of all copies ???
"Work,the curse of the drinking class" |
TOM PHILLIPS
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Posted - 15/12/2007 : 23:25
No ,its spelt correctly on the cover,must be a snide copy with the spelling error..
"Work,the curse of the drinking class" |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 16/12/2007 : 06:09
Frank, Geoff's book is a lifetime work. If you are interested in the water powered textile industry look at 'The Water Spinners' by Chris Aspin, another magnificent life work crammed with information and very readable.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
frankwilk
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Posted - 16/12/2007 : 08:40
quote: TOM PHILLIPS wrote: Frank,you should buy it the wife for xmas,iam sure she'll appreciate it,
That would be spoiling her I have already bought her "The Encyclopedia of Trains and Locomotives" and after that she can read "Memories of Clayton le Moors and Altham" followed by ???
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 16/12/2007 : 17:31
In a pig's ear..... You know very well you have behaved yourself....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
frankwilk
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Posted - 17/12/2007 : 20:01
Stanley do you know if Geoff sells direct to the public ???? I would pay full price + PP just trying to cut out the middle man.
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 18/12/2007 : 07:45
Yes, I'm sure he would. If you want his email, email me and I'll send it to you.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
karlelden
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Posted - 25/12/2007 : 04:50
So, Pollitt and Wigzel 3 rod. Amazing. Any other companies come up with similar designs? Wonder what other goodies the genius at Pollitt dreamed up for their engines. I really need to make another stop in your delightful country.
Happy holidays to all you good people!
Karl
Karl Elden |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2007 : 06:54
I've been having a furtle for a pic but can't find it. It is an engine where the air pump is alongside the LP cylinder. Never worked it out properly. I'll keep looking......
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
karlelden
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Posted - 27/12/2007 : 04:53
Did a ctrl+f on this page. http://www.internalfire.com/statall.php Revealed a few Pollitt engines surviving in various conditions. 3 (I think) tandem compounds, 1 cross compound, 1 CC scrapped.
Also, a Google search of "Pollitt and Wigzell" came up with a review of a book entitled Recent Cotton Mill Construction and Engineering written by Joseph Nasmith. Page 202 in that book refers to a Pollitt engine which has "one cylinder cover serving for the back end of the intermediate and the front end of the low pressure. There is one piston rod to the intermediate cylinder, and two to the low pressure..." Seems that book is still available for sale (at least a few copies). Anyone have it?
Karl Elden |