Barrow Steelworks An Illustrated History of the Haematite Steel Company

by Henderson, Stanley; Royall, K.E.

• ISBN13: 9780750963787
• ISBN10: 0750963786
• Edition: Illus.
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-11-01
• Publisher: The History Press

Summary

During the second half of the 19th century, Barrow-in-Furness became a pioneer in iron and steel production. It was an industry that grew astronomically to become the largest integrated steelworks in north Lancashire and Cumberland, and at one time the largest steelworks in the world. Its success was due, apart from those provided by nature, to having the prestige of three dukes as directors. The company owned collieries in three counties and ore mines in two. This book chronicles the company’s past, from the early empire through the interwar and post-war years, the development of continuous casting in the 1950s, which revolutionized steelmaking, and finally, the struggles and ultimate demise of this once prominent industry from the 1960s onwards.

Author Biography

Stanley Henderson comes from a family of steelworkers and worked for a year at Barrow Steelworks in 1964. His own career was in shipbuilding and he was a draughtsman for 30 years. He spent his last 4 years as a BAE quality assurance manager. He has held a long fascination with the iron and steel industry and has researched it for about 20 years. Ken Royall joined Barrow Steelworks in 1947 after being demobbed from the RAF. He began as an instrument technician, became works photographer in 1957, and eventually instrument and fuel engineer. His position prior to redundancy in 1980 was department manager.