Industrial Archaeology Magazine

I have a set of the David & Charles magazine Industrial Archaeology from vol 3 (1966) to vol 18 (1988) when I believe publication ceased. It occupies about 2 feet of shelf space.I am having to have a clear out - before I consign them for recycling would your society be interested? I would be happy to deliver to anywhere in the Warwick/Leamington/Stratford area. I will quite understand if you say no.

Best wishes
Arthur Owens.
arthurgowens@yahoo.co.uk

Please contact Arthur direct if you would like this IA magazine collection.

19th February 2010

Subject: earthworks on GW near Southam

Curious to know the origin of earthworks leading NNE from the GW Banbury - Leamington line just SE from Bishops Itchington (grid ref c 407563). Plainly visible from the train and marked on the 1:25000 OS. Seems at the wrong side and elevation to be linked to the Bishops Itchington cement works but I've seen odd references to KAye & co works at Little Itchington.  Can anyone help with info on this small vestige?  Is it remains of an incomplete project?

Many thanks

Andy Spiceley
andy@spiceley.net

21st February 2010

The Oxford and Rugby Railway.

It was originally intended to build a railway from Oxford to Rugby via Banbury and Southam. The Southam and Rugby section was abandoned and the railway was diverted to Leamington and Birmingham. At Knigtcote two miles north of Fenny Compton a short section of the formation of this railway was constructed. Its on the upside of present railway and extends for several hundred yards.  There used to be, and perhaps are still there GWR boundary posts along this section. Kay's cement works was originally served by the Warwick and Napton Canal Co. and later by the LNWR.  Marton Jcn. and Daventry line. I hope this is of help to you.

Peter Chater.
Member of Warwickshire  IA.

Nr. Bull & Butcher Farm

Hello

I wonder if you could have an answer to our problem.  At Grid Ref SP 395719 there are 15 or more very old posts in the ground along the public footpath that goes south-west from the A423 from Bull & Butcher farm.  We assume the landowner has obtained them from some old industrial site to use as gate posts etc.  But they obviously had another quite specific function initially.  They are very roughly 8” square, some with a metal collar at the top and a hole in the end of each post, at least one has a metal spigot still in the hole.  Supposedly the other ends could be the same, but of course, they are buried in the ground.

Any light you could shed on the possible origin of these posts would be really appreciated.

Yours faithfully

Tony Kirby
tonyk37@btinternet.com

Leamington Spa

Some 30+ years ago I was given the attached photograph by an engineer working at the water pumping station at Campion Terrace, Leamington Spa. It was amongst a batch of others showing stationary steam engines in pump stations in the locality. I have shown the picture to numerous people, so far none have come up with an answer as to what process is being carried out. If this could be determined it might just give me a clue as to where the photograph was taken.

Regards 

Peter Coulls
petercoulls@btinternet.com

Avon Power Station, Warwick

Have had replies from my uncle but one further photocopy he sent has raised a question........he sent an anniversary copy of the Courier (170 yrs , therefore I think 1998 ) which had a 1971 piccie of the power station being reflued, ( sounds like the railways - paint it just before closure ). But six flues are shown being replaced by two - but there is no sign of the wartime built boilers or flues ( per the 1947 photo ). Were they unreliable?, and removed, say, even as early as the 1950s, or in the 60s. Know anyone who might know? Gordon had been long away to Scotland.

Christopher Capewell
chriscapewell@googlemail.com

Hello

Tanworth in Arden Tramway / Waggonway

Hope somebody can help me over this tramway, having real problems finding any information about it.

David Constable
webring@webring.com

Bowling Green Pavilion, adjacent Warwick Power Station 2/1/1973. Possibly One of the six number Leamington and Warwick Tramway cars built by Brush for the 1905 electrification. Has it survived? There is no mention in the Oakwood Press book of 1978 nor the July 1981 Courier article. The 'possibly' is because the fenestration details are different from some photographs. I've been looking at the photographs on the Crich website and will comment shortly.

Christopher Capewell
chriscapewell@googlemail.com

13th May 2009

I have a working radio with the original Transformer/Speaker box out of a Lancaster bomber. On the front there is a number of dates. What I would like to know, if you can help, is can you tell me where I can get any history about the radio.

George Robinson
gv.robinson@virgin.net

I think this is Warwick Power Station. (Possibly even pre Great War).  Possibly from an advert for the loco manufacturer? (details of which I am chasing up ). I remember the overhead wire shunting loco. (and rode on it), and the topography looks correct. Power station on flood plain below the GWR main line, canal on embankment with two arch viaduct over river.

Can anyone you are in contact with confirm?

Christopher Capewell
chriscapewell@googlemail.com

Dear Sirs
I have recently completed writing a book. Set mainly in Coventry and the Westwood Heath area, it recounts the life of my father from his birth in 1929, spanning the Second World War through to the early 1950’s.  The story tells of his life of a working class lad including his school days, his experience of the war (including that of being an evacuee), national service and his love life.  I am interested in getting the story published and I was wondering if this would be of interest to you especially given the local content?

Regards.

Barry Cooper
barry.cooper70@tesco.net

I wondered if you could help me.

I am resident in the Rock Mill and have seen the two photographs that you have in your library of the rear of the Rock Mill before its development. The photographs were taken by Hugh Jones and I wondered if he had any others of the Rock Mill.

Regards
Dr Bruce McInnes
mcinnes9@btinternet.com

Dear Sirs/Madam
I am writing to you, to see if you could help me with some, hopefully - local knowledge. At the moment, I am researching my family tree, and I have a slight problem.  Do you have any knowledge of an gas works explosion in 1924(?), in which a gentleman was killed.  I know the surname would be Owen. He was my late grandmothers father and he died before my Nan and Grandad married in Kidderminster in 1924. I am visiting the national archives, in London on Saturday, and I would love to try and solve who my grandmothers parents were, as I have had more luck researching my late grandfathers side.

Yours Hopefully
Miss S Barr
stella.barr@ntlworld.com

Good afternoon
I am helping to research a large scale model railway project for a friend. The model is based on Leamington Spa in the 1950's. One of the buildings we are hoping to include in the former malterers/maltings building in Clapham Terrace, Leamington Spa. It stood alongside the Grand Union Canal opposite the School and at one time was served by the railway. According to the Kelly's directories it was in the ownership of of W Thomas malterers up to circa 1900 when it may have been used by Ballinger's Builders Merchants. Subsequently it was used as a repository by a furniture removers. The site was redeveloped in the 1980's/90's I believe and is now known as Waterside Court. Do any members of your society have any knowledge of this building and better still any photographs? I am more than happy to pay for any copies.

Many thanks in anticipation
Richard Elbourne 
(01926) 412076
Environment and Economy
Warwickshire County Council
richardelbourne@warwickshire.gov.uk
www.warwickshire.gov.uk