Last updated at 13:19, Friday, 29 June 2012

MILLOM author Allan Hodgson has taken a look into the background of an historic picture of the old Hodbarrow Mines at Millom during the building of an Edwardian sea defence barrier.

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The limestone block and concrete wall brought a new era of development to the iron ore pits and allowed them to keep operating to 1968.

Mr Hodgson, who lived close to where this Vintage picture was taken, is now based in Workington and has produced two books on his experiences of growing up next to the iron ore mines.

He writes: “When writing More about the Rocks in 2011, I was very lucky to get this historic picture of Rock house and No 8 shaft from Martin Addison-Atkinson, who lives in Essex, for the back cover.

“His grandparents, Bob and Clara, lived in Rock house.

“They had four sons; Harry, who became an Anglican priest; Billy, who was an artificer in the Royal Navy; George, who was a miner at Hodbarrow No 6 shaft and Bobby, who worked at the Co-op grocers, Millom.

“They also had a sister called Vena.

“All the men folk were excellent singers and sang in several Millom choirs including the choir of the Holy Trinity Church at Millom Castle.

“Mr Addison-Atkinson is Harry’s oldest son. Living in Millom are Betty and Joan, the daughters of George and Jenny is Billy’s daughter.

“The Atkinson’s were followed by Mrs Northcoate living at Rock House and she had two sons; Stan, who was in my class at Lapstone Road school and Harold, who generated electricity for the house lighting with a small wind turbine.

“This must have been a first for Millom around 1936.

“We would live at the Rocks at Hodbarrow Houses from around 1929 and I have no recollection at all at that time of seeing the busy railway sidings, full of wagons of stone.

“No doubt they record a hive of activity with regards to the building of the new sea wall, known as the Outer Barrier.

“The stone was quarried at several places in and around Hodbarrow where pockets of iron ore were extracted and the limestone residue used in large uneven lumps as shown on the wagons.

“They can be seen today at the Rocks end of the Outer Barrier as opposed to the centre portion, which is built of huge concrete blocks.

“I feel sure that the picture would be taken in 1903, possibly by Harry Moore.

“The Outer Barrier was finished in April 1905 and to this day it bears the plaque certifying it was officially completed by Harry Arnold, the then chairman of the Hodbarrow Mining Company and that the work commenced in April 1900.

“It is signed by Cedric Vaughan and William Barratt, managing directors.

“I personally recall Mr Vaughan as he was a fully qualified mining engineer whilst I was an apprentice fitter at Hodbarrow Mines from 1938.

“He lived in the villa below Steel Green Farm which was in the down hill lane turning left about 200 yards past Hodbarrow office going towards Haverigg.

“George Riley the Company secretary had the farm in my day and once I was sent to repair the gin ring, which was enclosed in a circular wall and had a steel plough-shaped gadget that a horse would be attached to.

“It had to go round and round dozens of times rotating a spindle which turned the wheels of the threshing machine below.

“From the left, you will see the buttressed up old circular sea wall – a failed effort to preserve it.

“There is also a five-ton steam crane, the No 8 shaft chimney and a store house in front and loco water filling tank.

“The winding engine house is behind the chimney .

“Then comes the No 8 shaft Cornish pump building and the old lighthouse in front of it with sheave wheels behind.

“Next is Rock house with just a trace of the No 10 shaft Cornish pump roof behind it.

“Lastly is No 10 shaft head sheave wheels.

“On the left, in the very front of the picture, is a box for locomotives to replenish their sand boxes from.

“Hodbarrow No 1 and No 2 Hunslet locos were used for the building of the wall.

“They had no backs in the top half of their cabs. Both were built by the Hunslet firm of locomotive builders at Leeds.

“No 1 was still in service for a short while I worked at the mine.

“At different times and at later date I repaired most of the items mentioned above.”

First published at 13:14, Friday, 29 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk