#550 – Review of the decade – 2018

A most productive year, with a revisit to Redcar, some abandonment – albeit explored with permission – and more experimentation with long exposures. Pincroft Dyers – January 2018 I live at the other end of Chorley to this Dyeworks, pretty much the last remnant of Chorley’s textile industry that is still in use. It’s in…

499 – Sarsia Revisited

After my first visit to see Sarsia, I had an idea – what would the scene look like using a long exposure? For that I’d need a cloudy, dry weekend day, which as the summer progressed were annoyingly infrequent, however a careful eye on the weather showed one to be upcoming. I was quite happy…

#497 – Sarsia – Birkenhead Docks

Following my visit to look at Cammell Laird, I made the short trip to Birkenhead’s East Float Dock to see the partially submerged RV Sarsia wreck. Histories of the ship on the internet differ, but the one here seems quite comprehensive, so I’ve joined that up with information from other sources to get a bit…

#495 – Cammell Laird 2

Is there anything more symbolic of shipbuilding than the cranes? In years past, these giant structures towered over the yards and the surrounding landscape like the chimneys of the textile towns. For miles, these huge cranes lined the banks of the Tyne and the Clyde, helping construct thousands of ships. While the Mersey is an…

#494 – Cammell Lairds 1

As I stood on the Birkenhead Priory tower overlooking the yard the 10.55 hooter, followed by one at 11, I presume signifying a tea break. I remember my own time spent working in a huge factory where our day was dictated by the rhythm of the hooter. 7.30 hooter – pick up the tools and…