Friday 29 July 2016

Railway bridge on Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, Ireland made in Derby by Phoenix Foundry.

I would like to thank someone on Twitter for pointing this new find out to me. Twitter images thanks to readingthesigns.weebly.com

Its a Railway bridge on Lower Glanmire Rd, Cork, Ireland which was made in Derby by Phoenix Foundry.

This railway bridge would have probably been built for the Cork and Youghal Railway around 1856 but until I get some hard facts I cant say for sure as it may have been added later on by the Great Southern and Western Railway around 1892. If anyone knows for sure when it was built then please get in touch.

This is the last railway bridge on the East side before the line enters Cork Kent Railway Station (originally called Glanmire Road Station), Its great to see this beidge still in use today

Here are two photographs from Twitter.
This one is a lovely clear shot of the makers badge that clearly shows it was proudly made at the Phoenix Foundry in Derby.






Here is a photograph of the bridge from Flickr by Finbarr O'Neill :


Cork | Lower Glanmire Road


Here is a Google Streetview of the bridge as seen from Water Street junction (drag view around with the mouse) :





In 2013 a HGV hit this bridge and it didn't do it any damage at all which just goes to show how well made things were back then !
Here is a photograph of the lorry that hit the bridge :


July 2013 - A lorry hits this bridge !




thanks
Andy

Thursday 12 April 2012

Derby Guildhall entrance cast iron pillars made by The Phoenix Foundry Derby in 1842.

In the entrance to the Guildhall in Derby you will find some Cast Iron Pillars made by The Phoenix Foundry Derby in 1842.

See the pillars in my 360 degree VR Photographs.
I captured these 360° photographs in April 2012 :
Derby Guildhall Entrance, 360 degree view near entrance to Market Place.
Derby Guildhall Entrance, 360 degree view in the middle of the entrance.
External 360 degree views:
Derby Guildhall, 360 degree view from the rooftop during renovation in Feb 2008.
Derby Guildhall, 360 degree view from Derby Market Place.

Note: Adobe Flash version 9> and a broadband connection are required to view them.

The Guildhall we see standing on Derby Market Place today was built in 1842 and designed by architect Henry Duesbury. The ground floor of the building is actually from a previous Guildhall designed by architect Mathew Habershon, built in 1828. Habershon's building was destroyed by a fire on the night of the 21st October 1841. These cast iron pillars manufactured by the Phoenix Foundry were probably added to the design to help fireproof the new building. Looking at the horizontal beams that the pillars support I think they may also be cast iron, what do you think?

This draughty thoroughfare was for many years the sale pitch for Monk's Pikelets and Oatcakes. The entrance has distinctive wooden cobbles which have stood the test of time.

In the vaulted entrance to the Guildhall are twelve large cast iron pillars as you can see in my photograph below.
You have probably walked past these pillars many times and not really payed any attention to them, Until recently I did not realise they are cast iron pillars but I confirmed this fact with a magnet.
Supporting pillars Derby Guild Hall

On the support base of all twelve columns (painted red) you will notice that they are clearly marked PHŒNIX FOUNDRY DERBY as you can see in my photograph.
Phoenix Foundry Derby makers name, Derby Guild Hall


Map Location:
Click HERE to see the exact location of these pillars on my World Map of items made by the Phoenix Foundry Derby.

If you know of any items around the world that have the mark "Phoenix Foundry Derby" that I have not yet mapped out please get in touch with details.

Thanks
Andy

Friday 30 March 2012

Where was the Phoenix Foundry Derby located?

Here is a tiny section from an old map of 1899. I have marked the Phoenix Foundry site in red so you can see where it was located. I have marked the River Derwent and the Derby Canal Phoenix arm in blue.
Compare this with the modern map below.
The Phoenix Foundry was located on an island known as Canary Island due to it being surounded by canals.
The Phoenix arm of the Derby Canal has a lock on it called Phoenix Flood Lock which you can see marked as Lock on the right side.

Click the map to view a larger version. Phoenix Foundry area marked in red.

A modern map of the same area as seen by Google Satellite Mapping.
I have marked on the area that equates to the Foundry site in red.


View Phoenix Foundry Company Limited Derby. J Haywood in a larger map

Phoenix Street in Derby was named after the Phoenix Foundry, Here is a photograph I took in March 2012 of the orignal Cast Iron Street Sign still in place today.
Phoenix Street Sign, Derby

Here is a photograph I took in March 2012 from the Cathedral Green area of Derby.
Those new appartments you can see across the River Derwent have been built on the
site of the former Phoenix Foundry :
Site of Phoenix Foundry Derby.

If you know of any items around the world that have the mark "Phoenix Foundry Derby" that I have not yet mapped out please get in touch with details.

Thanks
Andy

Monday 26 March 2012

Phoenix Foundry entry in Glover's Derby. Printed 1843.

Glover's Derby is a well known local reference book described in the front as "The History and Directory of the Borough of Derby, Intended as a  guide to strangers visiting the town".
By Stephen Glover, published in 1843.

This book has an entry for The Phoenix Foundry Derby as follows :

The Phœnix Foundry, Nottingham Road, Derby - Mr James Haywood the proprietor of these works, and a partner in the extensive ironmongery establishment in the Market Place, manufacturers stoves, kitchen ranges, Silvester's patent stoves for halls and churches, and other castings for ironmongers.Bridges, roofs, tanks. for railway columns, girders, palisading, and every description of ornamental castings, for architects and builders.

At these works were made the castings for the bridge over the Nottingham Road and other bridges on the North Midland Railway, also a large proportion of the iron work for the erection of the railway station at Derby, and whole of the girders, columns and other castings required in the building of the Royal Exchange, London.

The blog dedicated to the former "Phoenix Foundry Company Limited of Derby".

This is the first bog post on a dedicated blog to the former Foundry in Derby known as The Phoenix Foundry Company Limited Derby.
Established in 1834 by James Haywood on Stuart Street, Derby.
This company made lots of items around the world.

Some items produced by this foundry :
Battersea bridge, London 1890.
Stockport Market, Greater Manchester 1860.
Watson's Hotel (Esplanade Mansion), India 1869
Smithfield Market Hall, Manchester 1857
Derby Market Hall 1866.
Logovishtche Bridge, Twer, Russia 1871.
Hooe Lake Swing Bridge 1887
Burton on Trent Midland Railway Bridge 1881.
Borough market Halifax 1891.
Eastbourne Railway Station 1886.
Cork Kent Railway Station 1893.
Putney Railway Bridge 1889.
West Pier Pavillion Brighton 1893



James Haywood was the Mayor of Derby in 1849.

There were many foundries around the world with this name, the foundry I'm interested in is the one in Derby.

Items made at this foundry are distinctively marked PHŒNIX FOUNDRY DERBY. Note their name spelt with the O and E joined together.
Sometimes items are stamped  'J Haywood, Phoenix Foundry, Derby'.
If YOU find anything out there in the world that has the mark of this foundry that I have not yet plotted on my map then PLEASE contact me with details so I can add it.

The company was also called Phoenix Foundry and Engineering Company Limited of Derby.

I have created a dedicated group on Flickr for anyone to add in their photographs of items made at this foundry :
Flickr Group for Phoenix Foundry Derby.

I have created a map showing the locations of items made at this foundry or other items of note such as the location of the foundry :
Map location for The Phoenix Foundry Derby.