August 2022 – History of Consett Steelworks

Phileas Fogg (Life after the closure of the Steelworks)

A contributor via http://www.memoriesofleadgate.com has been in touch with a memory and some pictures of Pjileas Fogg where they worked

The person writes

Situated on No1 ind Est between Consett and Leadgate a company that was years ahead of its self and a world leader in the innovation of snacks.

The TV ads were legendary. “Consett Airport”

Over the years it employed many people from the local community and covered a number of units on the estate, north plant, West plant(bakery) central warehouse and the newest of them,south plant,as well as a warehouse at Elddis Transport.

I’ve added a few photos, to those on the photo I hope you don’t mind

that’s Eddie Wilson, Paul Bell, Helen Clarke, Clive Chatton, Henry Stewart and Tony Wilson writes Iain Fulton on memories of leadgate Facebook group

Sign outside the factory

Did you work at the Factory?

Link to Wikipedia entry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phileas_Fogg_snacks

An example of one of the adverts

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/sep/07/new-phileas-fogg-crisps-advert

A Steelworks Memory by Leslie Lowes

Via a comment on our Facebook group

Leslie Lowes writes

My abiding memory of Consett Iron Company is my bedroom ceiling in Blackhill glowing reddish pink, as the red hot slag was tipped at night. asWe could at times, i smell it as well.

Later as a college student, I worked there in summer vacations as a platelayer, repairing company railway tracks.

The work introduced me to the Low Yard, just beneath the Grove Bridge.

It was heavy work, but with cheerful workmates, whose banter lightened the weight of heaving 30lb-a-yard rail into place on the sleepers.

I earned my vacation pay for sure, but I also learned the value of men who turned up every day for a day of heavy graft, with relief after work on a Friday night, with a couple of pints in the pub.

They were good at dominoes, too.

Respect too for our chargehand, Bill Lysaught, a Limerick man, who had great humour and a ready whit.

Those two summers have always remained with me throughout life, and part of the reason I broke down in tears hundreds of miles from Consett, when I learned in 1980 that the company was to close.

It had always been close to my heart.

The History of Consett Steelworks project would like to thank Leslie for sharing this memory

if you have a memory or story to share please comment or get in touch

Low Yard at Consett Steelworks picture by Craig Oliphant kindly shared on Facebook group and also on the wonderful http://www.southpelawjunction.co.uk website managed by John Donnelly

Slag being poured shared by Steve Shields

Memorial Repaired at Tesco’s Consett

Delighted to report the damage at the Memorial at Consett Tesco’s has now been repaired

This will be the starting point for our Steelworks Walks on Sunday 11th Sept there will be a morning and afternoon session

pictures by Peter Jack Shaw

picture taken by Peter Jack Shaw – Accident Memorial Tesco’s Consett

Links to Steelworks Walks happening Sunday 11th 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/1128233234421556/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5B%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D%5D%7D

https://www.facebook.com/events/307676378112861/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5B%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D%5D%7D

Incident and deaths at Consett Steelworks July 1955

Annette Seabrook has been in touch regarding a sad incident of a family member her Grandad Thomas Seaman. Thoughts with her, family and also those of the other family effected

She writes

I am sending a picture of my Grandad Thomas Seaman who was killed (burned to death)at Consett steel works in July 1955 along with a work college Richard Ridley

The inquest stated this was due to 70lbs per square inch of oxygen being piped in to the Furness when the were renewing the bulk head stay rod they were in an area measuring 18ft by 11ft and entered through a man-hole.

I have news paper clippings which gives full details of accident as well as the investigation details