Canonite
09-06-2011, 03:52 PM
Firstly, this is a long drawn out affair of a thread. Soz! :D
Once upon a time......after several failed attempts and a great deal of wasted fuel spent I'd decided to take another trip to this old Kelham favourite. So after a quick phonecall to see what Grea was upto and a fuel stop en route we arrived and parked up. The anticipation was tickling away inside, i'd been dying to get in here for so long and the last time I was there I was disturbed by folks at Globe Works.
As we all know George Barnsley & Sons were a toolmakers and specialised in forging all manner of hand cutting tools for use in shoe making and repair. We have a man we know as Mozaz to thank for bringing this little jewel of a place to our attention several years ago, a memorial plaque now hangs on the wall inside the building and the memorial fund on this forum is still unspent, so you may like to donate as the plan is to have a bench placed at Kelham Island Museum. Also you may wish to buy the book Forging History (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forging-History-Barnsley-Toolmakers-National/dp/1906722161) and a little affiliate payment will go to the fund too.
George Barnsley & Sons is like stepping into a time capsule full of little details and relics that hint at the industrial age that was left behind not too many years ago. The place isn't too trashed either, it's nice to visit somewhere like this and not find graffitti and the general wreckage left in the wake of a wayward juvenille invasion. Surrounding the Cornish Works buildings are swanky 'riverside apartments' made from redeveloped industrial land and mills. As to whether or not George Barnsleys will suffer the same fate is anybodys guess, the sheer size of the place and the clean up operation to aid redevelopment is by no means a large task, it's a fucking mammoth one....and it'll take a lot of investment. In these 'unstable times' the good news is that it'll probably remain as it has done for the last 7yrs or so, home to only yuppie pigeons and the odd tramp.
With a long family history dating back several hundred years the Barnsley family had strong roots in the city of Sheffield, and many members served on the local council. Even as far back as 1637 a George Barnsley was renting a grinding wheel at Wadsley Bridge and became Master Cutler in 1650, and also being a founder member of the Cutler's Company Of Hallamshire. Strong roots then I think you'll agree.
Without wanting to be boring, i'll crack on with some pics....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/5813469198_d1c0ff8405_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/5813468924_5d4254a414_b.jpg
A nice find, this letter addressed to the chairman:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/5812891123_41b1f2c9b6_b.jpg
Some lovely windows around this place:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/5813459856_f2f8442ba1_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/5812893303_ec1d04cd3f_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/5812894943_67a568b2b0_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/5813465364_547c626a28_b.jpg
Interesting collection of chemicals:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/5812897987_a28d96b7de_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/5812898711_0d63465cc0_o.jpg
Oooh, Lampshade:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/5812899447_ba929fa30e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/5812900059_8c18c1d0d9_b.jpg
In Memory...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/5812899775_d085756d0c_b.jpg
Ilford Pics to Follow...
Thanks for looking :thumb
Once upon a time......after several failed attempts and a great deal of wasted fuel spent I'd decided to take another trip to this old Kelham favourite. So after a quick phonecall to see what Grea was upto and a fuel stop en route we arrived and parked up. The anticipation was tickling away inside, i'd been dying to get in here for so long and the last time I was there I was disturbed by folks at Globe Works.
As we all know George Barnsley & Sons were a toolmakers and specialised in forging all manner of hand cutting tools for use in shoe making and repair. We have a man we know as Mozaz to thank for bringing this little jewel of a place to our attention several years ago, a memorial plaque now hangs on the wall inside the building and the memorial fund on this forum is still unspent, so you may like to donate as the plan is to have a bench placed at Kelham Island Museum. Also you may wish to buy the book Forging History (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forging-History-Barnsley-Toolmakers-National/dp/1906722161) and a little affiliate payment will go to the fund too.
George Barnsley & Sons is like stepping into a time capsule full of little details and relics that hint at the industrial age that was left behind not too many years ago. The place isn't too trashed either, it's nice to visit somewhere like this and not find graffitti and the general wreckage left in the wake of a wayward juvenille invasion. Surrounding the Cornish Works buildings are swanky 'riverside apartments' made from redeveloped industrial land and mills. As to whether or not George Barnsleys will suffer the same fate is anybodys guess, the sheer size of the place and the clean up operation to aid redevelopment is by no means a large task, it's a fucking mammoth one....and it'll take a lot of investment. In these 'unstable times' the good news is that it'll probably remain as it has done for the last 7yrs or so, home to only yuppie pigeons and the odd tramp.
With a long family history dating back several hundred years the Barnsley family had strong roots in the city of Sheffield, and many members served on the local council. Even as far back as 1637 a George Barnsley was renting a grinding wheel at Wadsley Bridge and became Master Cutler in 1650, and also being a founder member of the Cutler's Company Of Hallamshire. Strong roots then I think you'll agree.
Without wanting to be boring, i'll crack on with some pics....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/5813469198_d1c0ff8405_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/5813468924_5d4254a414_b.jpg
A nice find, this letter addressed to the chairman:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/5812891123_41b1f2c9b6_b.jpg
Some lovely windows around this place:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/5813459856_f2f8442ba1_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/5812893303_ec1d04cd3f_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/5812894943_67a568b2b0_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/5813465364_547c626a28_b.jpg
Interesting collection of chemicals:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/5812897987_a28d96b7de_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/5812898711_0d63465cc0_o.jpg
Oooh, Lampshade:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2102/5812899447_ba929fa30e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/5812900059_8c18c1d0d9_b.jpg
In Memory...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/5812899775_d085756d0c_b.jpg
Ilford Pics to Follow...
Thanks for looking :thumb