Industrial History Online

Industrial History Online

Vulcan Iron Works

Description and History of Site:-
The site of the former Iron Works which produced Roots blowers for forges, steam hammers, lathes, planing machines, rolling mill engines and mining equipment. Four locomotives are recorded as being built here, in 1848 an 0-4-2 locomotive number 5, 'Albion' for the South Yorkshire Railway, a locomotive that had been refused by E.B. Wilson's Engine Works in Leeds due to its complex transverse cylinder containing a 'vibrating vane piston' known as the Cambrian system.
Three 0-6-0 locos were also produced for Boulton's Sidings in Cardiff in 1866.
Although demolished, there are still traces of the former works buildings in the high rear retaining wall complete with blocked windows and doors, also the easterly 1990s building to the rear of the site still retains the original incorporated gable end complete with blocked arched window.
The iron works had it's own internal railway system to aid movement of large castings. Mechanical engineer Robinson Thwaites (1807-1884) founded the Iron Works on this site by 1855 as Robinson Thwaites & Co. Later in partnership with Edward Carbutt as Thwaites & Carbutt employing 200 men, and then in 1880 as Thwaites Brothers.
The works were still trading here in 1917 as Thwaites Brothers, Mechanical Engineers. The Bradford 'Official Handbook' for 1937/8 carried an advert for 'Smith & Crabtree', Refrigerating Engineers, operating from the works.


Further Reading and References:-
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Thwaites_and_Carbutt
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/R._Thwaites_and_Co
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Thwaites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_Iron_Works
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Thwaites_Brothers
Kelly's 1917 Bradford Trade Directory.
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/vibratoryloco/vibratoryloco.htm
http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histbrad.asp


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Key Words :- iron foundry metal rolling mill engines locomotives

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the footpath on Thornton Road

Address :- Thornton Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2EP
Grid Ref :- SE 15931 32989
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.792972 , Long -1.759649
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1855 -
Contributor :- Andrew Garford - 26 April 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford