Castmaster Roll Foundry, September 2015
Introduction:
It's been a while since I've posted a report on here, as a few of you may be aware I threw the teddy out the pram with some members of the forum, but we'll not go back into that... Besides I have been busy Vulcan chasing with it being the bombers last year gracing our skies!
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm back, and where better to start than the industrial epicness that is, Castmaster Roll? Big well done to @Speed and @clebby for cracking it, and a thanks goes out to @ACID- REFLUX for the pointers! Explored solo but bumped into Sam and Matt whilst in there!
A Very Breif History:
Castmaster Roll, previously known as Davy Roll has been producing high qaulity iron and steel rolls in Sheffield for over 100 years. The company was once proud to boast the high qaulity reeling and straightening of iron, steel and alloys for the local and export steel industries.
The company sadly began to struggling in 2014 before going onto administration in February 2015 with a loss of 78 jobs, which is very sad to hear on today's economic climate... Another piece of British Industry gone too as the scrap men are dismantle the site at a rapid pace as I type!
Pictures:
As always I'll add bits where necessary!
The Exterior:
Starting with a quick shot of the Foundry from the street, a few of the pics in this report will mirror others but where possible I'll add ones that show the site in a different light, hopefully...
The Foundry:
Let's take a look around the foundry itself, this is where the actual steel, iron and alloy bending straightening and shaping would have taken place. Although a lot of the machinary was long gone by the time I arrived, it was still facinating to see what remained of the foundary. The large overhead craneswhere still in situ, as where a couple of the large buckets and extractor scoops.
The sole remaining extractor scoop...
Looking back down the foundry...
Up one of the cranes!
Inside what I want to call a Kiln?
Another Kiln, demolished on my last visit...
And finally, before moving further into the factory, I'll include this...
The Medical Room:
Castmaster has a lot to offer, a little bit or everyone I guess you could say. I spent a good 45 mins in here looking through draws and taking detail shots. I was impressed to see the medical room still looking like it was straight out of the 60's dispite the foundry only closing earlier this year! God help anyone who fell ill or became injured working here, a lot of the medical supplies where well out of date...
What's in the Doctors Bag...?
Air Raid Shelter and Washrooms:
A nice reminder of the age of this place is the second world war air raid shelter on site, clearly the protection and care of the workforce was a large priority to Davy Roll, with the provision of a fully stocked medical room, air raid shelter and large washroom facilities, which is always nice to see.
The pic below isn't exactly original, but there's not an awful lot you can do with the shelter photographically.
The washrooms make for some brilliant photo opportunites, still full to the brim with personal belongings, a sad reminder of the 78 workers who lost their jobs here...
Boots, everywhere...
I could share more, but I need the room to show more of the factory to you!
Shop Floor and Loading Area:
This part of the factory is where the completed products would have been sorted and loaded onto the backs of trucks for further processing. This part of the foundry reminded me very much of local favourite, Pilkingtons, just on a much smaller scale and in better nick!
Come on England, stop letting our factories f*cking close!!
Stores:
All factories need a store room, here's Castmasters!
The sole remaining box of bolts, sad really!
Misc:
Below are a few pics that don't really belong in any of the above catergories but are still worth a share....
Samuel Withers & Co safe.
Stationary...
Tha's Wheel Barra...
Forklift
And that's all from here,
Thanks for reading,
TAW
Hopefully all is well, edited and uploaded on Iphone!
Introduction:
It's been a while since I've posted a report on here, as a few of you may be aware I threw the teddy out the pram with some members of the forum, but we'll not go back into that... Besides I have been busy Vulcan chasing with it being the bombers last year gracing our skies!
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm back, and where better to start than the industrial epicness that is, Castmaster Roll? Big well done to @Speed and @clebby for cracking it, and a thanks goes out to @ACID- REFLUX for the pointers! Explored solo but bumped into Sam and Matt whilst in there!
A Very Breif History:
Castmaster Roll, previously known as Davy Roll has been producing high qaulity iron and steel rolls in Sheffield for over 100 years. The company was once proud to boast the high qaulity reeling and straightening of iron, steel and alloys for the local and export steel industries.
The company sadly began to struggling in 2014 before going onto administration in February 2015 with a loss of 78 jobs, which is very sad to hear on today's economic climate... Another piece of British Industry gone too as the scrap men are dismantle the site at a rapid pace as I type!
Pictures:
As always I'll add bits where necessary!
The Exterior:
Starting with a quick shot of the Foundry from the street, a few of the pics in this report will mirror others but where possible I'll add ones that show the site in a different light, hopefully...
The Foundry:
Let's take a look around the foundry itself, this is where the actual steel, iron and alloy bending straightening and shaping would have taken place. Although a lot of the machinary was long gone by the time I arrived, it was still facinating to see what remained of the foundary. The large overhead craneswhere still in situ, as where a couple of the large buckets and extractor scoops.
The sole remaining extractor scoop...
Looking back down the foundry...
Up one of the cranes!
Inside what I want to call a Kiln?
Another Kiln, demolished on my last visit...
And finally, before moving further into the factory, I'll include this...
The Medical Room:
Castmaster has a lot to offer, a little bit or everyone I guess you could say. I spent a good 45 mins in here looking through draws and taking detail shots. I was impressed to see the medical room still looking like it was straight out of the 60's dispite the foundry only closing earlier this year! God help anyone who fell ill or became injured working here, a lot of the medical supplies where well out of date...
What's in the Doctors Bag...?
Air Raid Shelter and Washrooms:
A nice reminder of the age of this place is the second world war air raid shelter on site, clearly the protection and care of the workforce was a large priority to Davy Roll, with the provision of a fully stocked medical room, air raid shelter and large washroom facilities, which is always nice to see.
The pic below isn't exactly original, but there's not an awful lot you can do with the shelter photographically.
The washrooms make for some brilliant photo opportunites, still full to the brim with personal belongings, a sad reminder of the 78 workers who lost their jobs here...
Boots, everywhere...
I could share more, but I need the room to show more of the factory to you!
Shop Floor and Loading Area:
This part of the factory is where the completed products would have been sorted and loaded onto the backs of trucks for further processing. This part of the foundry reminded me very much of local favourite, Pilkingtons, just on a much smaller scale and in better nick!
Come on England, stop letting our factories f*cking close!!
Stores:
All factories need a store room, here's Castmasters!
The sole remaining box of bolts, sad really!
Misc:
Below are a few pics that don't really belong in any of the above catergories but are still worth a share....
Samuel Withers & Co safe.
Stationary...
Tha's Wheel Barra...
Forklift
And that's all from here,
Thanks for reading,
TAW
Hopefully all is well, edited and uploaded on Iphone!
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