1. The History
Situated between Cotton Mill Row, Cotton Street and Alma Street, Sheffield, Falcon works were built in the 1930's for light industrial use after the site was cleared as part of a 1931 Clearance Order. Originally standing three storeys tall, the premises were reduced to one storey between 1948 and 1950. Prior to this the site was used for a number of purposes. In 1896 the Alma Street end of the site played host to a rag warehouse. Due south were ten houses facing onto Cotton Mill Row, followed by Edward Cave’s timber yard. At the southern-most tip could be found the Rifle Tavern public house.
Some of the works included purpose-built workshops for a saw manufacturer and were occupied by R. H. Walker and Sons. The company had been earlier established in 1923 by Richard Walker his son John, the former having been in the saw-manufacturing business since 1880. R. H. Walker and Sons established themselves as one of the leading UK manufacturers of high-quality Tungsten Carbide Tipped circular saw blades. They expanded operations locally in 1937 and then, in the early 1940's, took over Cardiff-based company, Atkinson & Co (Saws) Limited. In 1956 they closed the Cardiff factory, consolidating production in Sheffield by acquiring further premises on Bower Street. R H Walker and Son were then incorporated into the trading title of Atkinson-Walker (Saws) Limited in 1975, employing around 20 people.
However, like many light manufacturing operations in post-industrial Britain, the company ran into problems in recent years and finally went into administration in February 2018, suffering losses as a result of on-going pressures on profit margins and an increase cost-base. While an out-right buyer couldn’t be found, Sheffield Industrial Saws payed £20,000 for a six-month licence to operate out of the Falcon Works premises, but when that came to an end, with the secured creditors paid-up, the administrators closed operations at Falcon Works. The land was then sold off and in February 2019 an application was tabled for the demolition all existing buildings and the erection of a new 4-storey building comprising of 88 numbered residential apartments.
2. The Explore
Been past this place many times but it never really registered. Not until a tip-off from @tarkovsky who very kindly gave me the heads-up about it. So off I set. Entry was a bit of a squeeze, so the roll-out option was used for exit. It’s a very long run of buildings and architecturally it’s nothing special and can’t really hold a candle to the near-by George Barnsley’s (but then what can?). Inside it’s mainly stripped bare. That said there’s enough to go at for half-an-hour or so and a new explore is a new explore.
3. The Pictures
A few externals to start:
img0869 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0870 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0871 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0855bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
Including these really faded ghost signs:
img0873 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0874 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0853 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Outside looking in:
img0867 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0865bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
And in we go!
Sheff Saw 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0833bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0834 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Little room just off the yard:
Sheff Saw 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The main blade-working workshop:
Sheff Saw 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0839bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
I know it’s going to be demo’ed but why do people feel the need to smash stuff up?
Sheff Saw 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nice shelf in the reception hall:
Sheff Saw 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and hatch opposite:
Sheff Saw 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This picture of Paul Whitehouse as Arthur Atkinson must be related to the co-owners of the company:
Sheff Saw 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Probably the most interesting thing in the whole works:
Sheff Saw 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Of course, made in Sheffield:
Sheff Saw 08 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And some nice wooden box shelving on the small second floor:
Sheff Saw 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Sheff Saw 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0850 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not much left lying around:
img0844bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
Situated between Cotton Mill Row, Cotton Street and Alma Street, Sheffield, Falcon works were built in the 1930's for light industrial use after the site was cleared as part of a 1931 Clearance Order. Originally standing three storeys tall, the premises were reduced to one storey between 1948 and 1950. Prior to this the site was used for a number of purposes. In 1896 the Alma Street end of the site played host to a rag warehouse. Due south were ten houses facing onto Cotton Mill Row, followed by Edward Cave’s timber yard. At the southern-most tip could be found the Rifle Tavern public house.
Some of the works included purpose-built workshops for a saw manufacturer and were occupied by R. H. Walker and Sons. The company had been earlier established in 1923 by Richard Walker his son John, the former having been in the saw-manufacturing business since 1880. R. H. Walker and Sons established themselves as one of the leading UK manufacturers of high-quality Tungsten Carbide Tipped circular saw blades. They expanded operations locally in 1937 and then, in the early 1940's, took over Cardiff-based company, Atkinson & Co (Saws) Limited. In 1956 they closed the Cardiff factory, consolidating production in Sheffield by acquiring further premises on Bower Street. R H Walker and Son were then incorporated into the trading title of Atkinson-Walker (Saws) Limited in 1975, employing around 20 people.
However, like many light manufacturing operations in post-industrial Britain, the company ran into problems in recent years and finally went into administration in February 2018, suffering losses as a result of on-going pressures on profit margins and an increase cost-base. While an out-right buyer couldn’t be found, Sheffield Industrial Saws payed £20,000 for a six-month licence to operate out of the Falcon Works premises, but when that came to an end, with the secured creditors paid-up, the administrators closed operations at Falcon Works. The land was then sold off and in February 2019 an application was tabled for the demolition all existing buildings and the erection of a new 4-storey building comprising of 88 numbered residential apartments.
2. The Explore
Been past this place many times but it never really registered. Not until a tip-off from @tarkovsky who very kindly gave me the heads-up about it. So off I set. Entry was a bit of a squeeze, so the roll-out option was used for exit. It’s a very long run of buildings and architecturally it’s nothing special and can’t really hold a candle to the near-by George Barnsley’s (but then what can?). Inside it’s mainly stripped bare. That said there’s enough to go at for half-an-hour or so and a new explore is a new explore.
3. The Pictures
A few externals to start:
Including these really faded ghost signs:
Outside looking in:
img0867 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And in we go!
Little room just off the yard:
The main blade-working workshop:
I know it’s going to be demo’ed but why do people feel the need to smash stuff up?
Nice shelf in the reception hall:
…and hatch opposite:
This picture of Paul Whitehouse as Arthur Atkinson must be related to the co-owners of the company:
Probably the most interesting thing in the whole works:
Of course, made in Sheffield:
And some nice wooden box shelving on the small second floor:
Not much left lying around:
