WIAS - Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society

Tie Plates

In Industrial Archaeology vol. 5 Richard Storey published a supplementary note on tie plates (pp. 410-412). Amongst those illustrated were several oval plates bearing the maker's (or supplier's) name, Bryan Corcoran of 31 Mark Lane, London (the national centre of the corn trade in the nineteenth century and hence of merchants' and millers' suppliers). Subsequent to the publication of the note, one of the tie plates was rescued from the rubble left by demolition of the malting, and it became obvious that it held in place not a tie-rod, but a hook, presumably to hold the kiln wire floor in tension. This will clearly be seen from the accompanying illustration. The dimensions are: plate: 1ft. deep, 9ins wide; hooked rod: 2ft long.

Richard Storey would like to present the plate & rod to a public museum for display but has so far tried two national institutions without success. Any interested organisation is invited to contact him at 32 High Street, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1LZ (tel: 01926 857409).

It would be necessary to collect the item from Kenilworth which is easily accessed via the motorway network.