Never forget the Workers

July 1st 2020 was the 70th anniversary of one of the most tragic events in the history of Consett Iron Company when 11 blast furnace workers lost their lives in a carbon monoxide gas leak. Many more were affected, with 7 men seriously injured and a total of 28 people needing hospital treatment at nearby Shotely Bridge.

Project Genesis are in the process of developing a permanent memorial to the men whose lives were ended by this tragedy. Here at History of Consett Steelworks we are hoping to create a permanent online memorial for the these men, paying tribute to their bravery and remembering their loss to their families. We’d love to hear from you if you or your family was touched by this event. Please do get in touch with us via email at historyofconsettsteelworks@gmail.com and we can make sure your story is recorded and not forgotten.

The following article was written by Northern Echo journalist Gavin Havery to mark the anniversary of the accident.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18554775.memorial-plans-consett-steelworkers-died-work/?ref=ebln&fbclid=IwAR0WdWvV0Qe6KbF-pri0CSmkSn8hmD2RBGXI5ylS0Be5sgQ3hGqj8VHkSA0

_{Thanks to Leadgate in Pictures Old and New Facebook group for the newspaper cutting image}

 

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Tweeting all over the world

_{Thanks to the South Pelaw Junction website for use of the header image}

_{Well-known Consett resident Theresa Roberts protesting in London at the prospect of the closure of Consett where her husband and two sons worked, 1979}

We have been really fortunate to have not one but two papers accepted for the Shaped by Steel conference organised by Swansea University and via the project Twitter feed @SteelWorlds

For anyone new to Twitter conferencing, it is a great way to share and discuss a specific topic over a series of tweets – in this case 15. Anyone can respond to the tweets, and they are permanently on the Social Worlds of Steel twitter feed for anyone to engage with and learn by. It’s a great way to get the stories you want to tell known and included in the discussion.

Our two papers, both presented on Wednesday 1st July, are:

9.40 – 10.00am: Forging Links in the Landscape: how Consett used its integrated transport system to connect with the world and overcome its locational challenges

4.00 – 4.20pm: Tapping the Memories: a selection of illustrative stories of the people who made Consett steel and how their contribution shaped an industry and a community

We’ve had some fantastic conversations and insights from people who worked for CIC and have had access to some fascinating and privileged information on how people worked, lived and enjoyed living in Consett. Community was key, and the links are still strong, even 40 years after closure. We are really grateful to everyone who has shared their stories, memories and images with us.

Please do join us live on Twitter at @SteelWorlds or using the hashtag #SWOS20, but if not take a look at any time, and feel free to add your thoughts in the comments to the tweets.