Latest news with #industrialheritage
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Heritage objection to hotel plan for Rotherham foundry site
A heritage body has lodged an objection to a major hotel development proposed for a former foundry site in Guest & Chrimes brassworks, built in the 19th Century, was the site where the distinctive red New York fire hydrants were produced and was given Grade II listed status for its "industrial significance" in Developments Ltd plan to transform one of the buildings into a hotel reception, bar and restaurant area and demolish two other buildings to create a new 138-room England's objection states the proposal would cause "a substantial amount of harm" and emphasises the importance of retaining more of the historic structure. The plans, designed by Stephenson Hamilton Risley Studio, for the derelict industrial complex which has sat empty since 1999, include the retention of the northernmost range of buildings including the Guest & Chrimes water demolished buildings would be replaced with an L-shaped extension clad in a brass-coloured metal and would be linked to the original building by a glazed said the plans were a "unique opportunity for a high-quality leisure destination" supporting town centre regeneration and finally making use of "a dangerous site which has been fenced off for years" after fire damage and structural instability, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Historic England said in its objection: "The high level of harm that would result from the current proposals is not considered to be outweighed by the potential public or heritage benefits."It said its concerns included the lack of condition surveys to prove alternative, less harmful redevelopment options were unviable, and there was a lack of evidence showing firm interest from hotel operators with demand for a new hotel not clearly England said despite objections, it remained supportive "in principle" of the site's development and acknowledged the need for its regeneration and new said retaining more of the original buildings would allow a clear reading of the foundry's architectural and industrial evolution – even after the front office range was lost in a 2018 consultation on the application is ongoing, with a decision expected later this year. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
The not-so-hidden gem of a walk which takes in Bolton's industrial past and nature
With its mix of former heavy industry and nature, Bolton has a good few interesting walks dotted around. From Barrow Bridge to the reservoirs around Rivington, there are many areas of the town that blend the beauty of nature with the starkness of old industrial buildings and structures. One lesser-talked about route is the Burnden and Darcy Lever viaducts, which form a platform in the sky that will take you directly from Manchester Road to Leverhulme Park. Anyone who has driven on St Peter's Way will be familiar with the sight of the viaduct, but some may not be aware that you can walk atop the big bridge. The Darcy Lever viaduct (Image: Newsquest) They were both built as part of the Bury to Bolton section of the railway line, which went to Liverpool in the Industrial Revolution and were used to transport coal. But in 2015, the two viaducts were opened as a cycling, walking and horse riding route. The Bolton News went down in the summer sun to take a look at the viaducts and see what you can see from the top. If starting on the Darcy Lever side from Radcliffe Road, you can see a lovely view of the River Tonge, before ascending Woodside Place, at the top of which you will find Gorses Steps. Gorses Steps (Image: Newsquest) Once you get to the top and catch your breath, you are on the level of the bridge and can get onto it. You do feel quite high up once up there, the river that you were just looking down on looks ever so small! Read more: Bolton viaducts with rich history transformed into walking and cycling routes Read more: How Lever Bridge looked before World War Two But, it is a solid Victorian viaduct which used to hold trains, so there is no feeling of rickety footbridges or anything like that, it is as sturdy as the ground itself. You can see how it is used as a route for bikes and horses, it is massive - you could probably use it as a road if you really wanted. The viaduct stretching out (Image: Newsquest) Walking along the bridge, you can see two industrial chimneys to the left, though you would imagine that there were many more in place when it was built. On the other side you can see the River Tonge again, surrounded by greenery. Towards the end of the bridge is a lovely bit of greenery which appears to have been grown on purpose around the cage. It gives a canopy-style effect, with pink and green lives adding a lovely bit of colour to the bridge. Greenery on the cage around the viaduct (Image: Newsquest) After that, you walk along a wooded path which leads to the next viaduct, the Burnden Viaduct. From up here, you can see right over St Peter's Way - it definitely looks high up when you drive underneath it, and that impression is not wrong. As well as the road itself, you can see across to the town centre. The bridge then leads to the back of Scholey Street, by the police station. Back at Darcy Lever, if you were to walk in the opposite direction, the route leads to Leverhulme Park, if you wanted more nature.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rosefield Mills: Photos capture allure of Dumfries' 'Venetian palace'
Photographers including a talented six-year-old have been capturing the allure of a disused mill in Dumfries, designed to resemble a Venetian were invited to take shots of Rosefield Mills as part of a photography competition organised by the Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT).The group bought the site on the banks of the River Nith in 2018, and is working with consultants on a plan to bring it back into said this work is "ticking along" and the group hopes to share more details "very soon". Amateur and professional photographers were encouraged to take part in the competition and had a chance to take photos inside the mills during an open weekend in competition had two sections - one for the mills and one for wider industrial heritage sites in the judges said they had a difficult time choosing the winners from such a "great selection of unusual and imaginative images".However, they ultimately selected the top winners for photographs of Rosefield Mills were Ray Cartwright (Under 18) and Tom Burns (18 and over). The industrial heritage winners were six-year-old Ray Cartwright in the under 18s category, and Kirsten Bax (18 and over).Luke Moloney, who chairs DHBT, said: "We are so pleased with all the images which were entered into the competition, and especially delighted with the winning images which will be used to help promote and engage people about Rosefield Mills."In particular, the judges were impressed with the work of six-year-old Ray Cartwright, who won in both categories."Prizes were presented to the winners at a ceremony on 2 July.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- The Guardian
Industrial revelation: a walk through England's Great Northern Coalfield
The Great Northern Coalfield once provided the raw fuel that powered Britain through the Industrial Revolution. For over two centuries, coal from the mines of Durham and Northumberland was trundled down a maze of wagonways and rail lines to the coast to then be shipped to London. The mines are long gone, but eight miles north of Durham city, relics of the north-east's industrial heritage can be found hidden amid ancient woodland and a steep-sided gorge. I'm familiar with parts of this area from childhood walks and teenage escapades, but my eight mile circular route connects key historical sites and finishes at a pub with links back to the Napoleonic wars. My journey into the past begins at Eden Place, a picnic area near the village of Beamish on the site of an old terrace of miners' houses. I set off along a disused railway path, which until 1985 was a busy line linking the Consett steelworks with Sunderland. It is also part of the Irish Sea to North Sea C2C cycle route so, in search of a bit of solitude, I transfer to a parallel track through the malevolent-sounding Hellhole woods. In fact, they are a delight as I stroll through patch after patch of pungent wild garlic in full flower. After wending its way across fields and a couple of roads, the route arrives at Tanfield Railway – which claims to be the world's oldest railway. Built in 1725 by the Grand Allies, an association of colliery-owning families, as a horse-drawn wagonway to carry coal from inland pits to the Tyne, it later became a rail line. Since it closed in 1964, enthusiasts have brought a three-mile section back to life, and vintage steam trains now shuttle visitors between East Tanfield station, where I am, and Marley Hill. The station houses a tearoom, while an engine shed displays old maps that show just how rail lines used to vein the area. It's tempting to break off from my route and take the six-mile round trip by train to Marley Hill, but I'm keen to see the most dramatic part of the walk. A path from the car park, signposted to Causey Arch, leads into woods, and I'm soon walking along the top of a steep-sided gorge. Woodland has covered this area for centuries, and as I look down at the stream below in the gloom, it feels ridiculously remote – until the spell is broken by the hoot of a locomotive chugging along the other side of the gorge. About half an hour after leaving Tanfield, a huge bridge across the dene (valley) comes into view. This is Causey Arch, which a noticeboard proudly announces is the oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge in the world. In 1725, the Grand Allies commissioned local stonemason Ralph Wood to span the ravine. He turned to Roman technology for his design and, when the original wooden bridge fell apart, it was rebuilt in stone. But local legend has it that, fearing a second collapse, Wood committed suicide by throwing himself off the top of his construction. After restoration in the 1980s, the bridge is still standing nearly 300 years later. I walk across the top to join a few other hikers inspecting an old wagon on display, before heading down a steep path to the bottom of the gorge. Here, a footbridge gives the best view of the perfect arch, framed by the trees as it rises majestically 24 metres above the burn. As I carry on walking, I begin to hear shouting; then a wall of rain-stained, yellow sandstone comes into view. This is Causey Quarry, a popular rock-climbing spot and the place where I learned the basics of rope work many years ago. I do a short traverse above the muddy ground for old times' sake, shuddering slightly as I remember the rock antics of my youth. Steps up a huge wooded artificial embankment lead to a much-needed stop at Poppy Coffee Pot cafe in the Causey car park. Fortified with cake, I continue along a bridleway, part of the 80-mile Tyne and Wear Heritage Way, before heading along a track called Coppy Lane and into open countryside. This eventually turns downhill, and before long the roof tiles of Beamish Hall appear, for centuries home to the local landowners. Starting life as a fortified farmhouse in the 13th century, the current hall was built in the 1800s, and previous occupants include the family of former prime minister Anthony Eden. It is now a hotel and, as I stroll up for a closer look, its manicured lawns offer a welcome break from the rough tracks in the woods (doubles from £92). The old stables now house both a restaurant and The Coach House Cafe, which offers afternoon tea, but I feel a little too grubby to sit down to dainty cakes and sandwiches, and so continue on my route. This now clings to Beamish burn (stream), and as I turn towards a hill I begin to hear a babble of voices, then the rattle and ding of a bell as a tram moves across the skyline. I hadn't realised I was quite so close to Beamish open-air museum, a huge 140-hectare (350-acre) site dedicated to the preservation of life in the north-east, which was last week crowned Art Fund museum of the year. With only the occasional dog walker for company, it is hard to imagine that in the early 1800s this area was a hive of industrial activity, boasting a paper mill and iron forges, one of which had the reputation of 'casting the finest muzzle-loading cannon in England'. Soon after passing Flint mill, I enter Ousbrough Wood, a site of nature conservation importance comprising ancient trees and a conifer plantation that at one time provided pit props for the mines. There are myriad paths through the oak and silver birch, and I occasionally take a wrong turn, retracing my steps to get back on to the heritage way route. There's some steep uphill walking, but eventually the path deposits me on a country road. I turn left and, after passing a row of almshouses built in 1863, I arrive at the pub. The Shepherd & Shepherdess dates from the 18th century, getting its name from two life-size painted lead figures above the original door. The story goes that these date from the Napoleonic wars, when a French blockade on lead meant these metal figures were smuggled into Britain as 'works of art', to be melted down for weaponry. These two were saved by a squire at Beamish Hall, eventually ending up at the pub. Whatever the tale, they make a nice historical touch to this fine hostelry, complete with an open fire in the winter and a menu of sturdy pub fare. This includes lasagne, sea bass and fish and chips, as well as good vegetarian and gluten-free options. My eye, though, is drawn to the local delicacy of corned beef and potato pie served with greens, chips and gravy. Accompanied by a pint of the pub's own cask ale, this is the perfect post-walk sustenance in Beamish country.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- The Guardian
Industrial revelation: a walk through England's Great Northern Coalfield
The Great Northern Coalfield once provided the raw fuel that powered Britain through the Industrial Revolution. For over two centuries, coal from the mines of Durham and Northumberland was trundled down a maze of wagonways and rail lines to the coast to then be shipped to London. The mines are long gone, but eight miles north of Durham city, relics of the north-east's industrial heritage can be found hidden amid ancient woodland and a steep-sided gorge. I'm familiar with parts of this area from childhood walks and teenage escapades, but my eight mile circular route connects key historical sites and finishes at a pub with links back to the Napoleonic wars. My journey into the past begins at Eden Place, a picnic area near the village of Beamish on the site of an old terrace of miners' houses. I set off along a disused railway path, which until 1985 was a busy line linking the Consett steelworks with Sunderland. It is also part of the Irish Sea to North Sea C2C cycle route so, in search of a bit of solitude, I transfer to a parallel track through the malevolent-sounding Hellhole woods. In fact, they are a delight as I stroll through patch after patch of pungent wild garlic in full flower. After wending its way across fields and a couple of roads, the route arrives at Tanfield Railway – which claims to be the world's oldest railway. Built in 1725 by the Grand Allies, an association of colliery-owning families, as a horse-drawn wagonway to carry coal from inland pits to the Tyne, it later became a rail line. Since it closed in 1964, enthusiasts have brought a three-mile section back to life, and vintage steam trains now shuttle visitors between East Tanfield station, where I am, and Marley Hill. The station houses a tearoom, while an engine shed displays old maps that show just how rail lines used to vein the area. It's tempting to break off from my route and take the six-mile round trip by train to Marley Hill, but I'm keen to see the most dramatic part of the walk. A path from the car park, signposted to Causey Arch, leads into woods, and I'm soon walking along the top of a steep-sided gorge. Woodland has covered this area for centuries, and as I look down at the stream below in the gloom, it feels ridiculously remote – until the spell is broken by the hoot of a locomotive chugging along the other side of the gorge. About half an hour after leaving Tanfield, a huge bridge across the dene (valley) comes into view. This is Causey Arch, which a noticeboard proudly announces is the oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge in the world. In 1725, the Grand Allies commissioned local stonemason Ralph Wood to span the ravine. He turned to Roman technology for his design and, when the original wooden bridge fell apart, it was rebuilt in stone. But local legend has it that, fearing a second collapse, Wood committed suicide by throwing himself off the top of his construction. After restoration in the 1980s, the bridge is still standing nearly 300 years later. I walk across the top to join a few other hikers inspecting an old wagon on display, before heading down a steep path to the bottom of the gorge. Here, a footbridge gives the best view of the perfect arch, framed by the trees as it rises majestically 24 metres above the burn. As I carry on walking, I begin to hear shouting; then a wall of rain-stained, yellow sandstone comes into view. This is Causey Quarry, a popular rock-climbing spot and the place where I learned the basics of rope work many years ago. I do a short traverse above the muddy ground for old times' sake, shuddering slightly as I remember the rock antics of my youth. Steps up a huge wooded artificial embankment lead to a much-needed stop at Poppy Coffee Pot cafe in the Causey car park. Fortified with cake, I continue along a bridleway, part of the 80-mile Tyne and Wear Heritage Way, before heading along a track called Coppy Lane and into open countryside. This eventually turns downhill, and before long the roof tiles of Beamish Hall appear, for centuries home to the local landowners. Starting life as a fortified farmhouse in the 13th century, the current hall was built in the 1800s, and previous occupants include the family of former prime minister Anthony Eden. It is now a hotel and, as I stroll up for a closer look, its manicured lawns offer a welcome break from the rough tracks in the woods (doubles from £92). The old stables now house both a restaurant and The Coach House Cafe, which offers afternoon tea, but I feel a little too grubby to sit down to dainty cakes and sandwiches, and so continue on my route. This now clings to Beamish burn (stream), and as I turn towards a hill I begin to hear a babble of voices, then the rattle and ding of a bell as a tram moves across the skyline. I hadn't realised I was quite so close to Beamish open-air museum, a huge 140-hectare (350-acre) site dedicated to the preservation of life in the north-east, which was last week crowned Art Fund museum of the year. With only the occasional dog walker for company, it is hard to imagine that in the early 1800s this area was a hive of industrial activity, boasting a paper mill and iron forges, one of which had the reputation of 'casting the finest muzzle-loading cannon in England'. Soon after passing Flint mill, I enter Ousbrough Wood, a site of nature conservation importance comprising ancient trees and a conifer plantation that at one time provided pit props for the mines. There are myriad paths through the oak and silver birch, and I occasionally take a wrong turn, retracing my steps to get back on to the heritage way route. There's some steep uphill walking, but eventually the path deposits me on a country road. I turn left and, after passing a row of almshouses built in 1863, I arrive at the pub. The Shepherd & Shepherdess dates from the 18th century, getting its name from two life-size painted lead figures above the original door. The story goes that these date from the Napoleonic wars, when a French blockade on lead meant these metal figures were smuggled into Britain as 'works of art', to be melted down for weaponry. These two were saved by a squire at Beamish Hall, eventually ending up at the pub. Whatever the tale, they make a nice historical touch to this fine hostelry, complete with an open fire in the winter and a menu of sturdy pub fare. This includes lasagne, sea bass and fish and chips, as well as good vegetarian and gluten-free options. My eye, though, is drawn to the local delicacy of corned beef and potato pie served with greens, chips and gravy. Accompanied by a pint of the pub's own cask ale, this is the perfect post-walk sustenance in Beamish country.
