I used to work at River Don Castings, Sheffield Forgemasters. When I first started as an aprentice Moulder - it was called BSC River Don. I believe it was English Steel before that.

I am researching the men who worked for the company and fell in the great war. Can anybody tell me if it was called Vickers at the time of the great war - 1914-18. Also what was its role in the war - did they make shells etc. I am basically interested in anything to do with that period.

When my research is complete - I intend to put it on my website

www.stannington.webitsmart.co.uk

The results of my earlier research can also be found here

Regards

Robert.

I cannot tell the exact name of the company during the 1914-18 period but if you can borrow a copy of The History Of Vickersfrom the library, I think you will find all the details.

Ex River Don steelworker

Happy Days

Hi

There are lots of documents in the archives at the Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield - some are old company records - they may be able to help you.

G

Many thanks - I will see if I can get a copy of the book.

Cheers

Robert.

200 years of history (http://www.sheffieldforgemasters.co.uk/history_home.php) taken from Forgemasters homepage (http://www.sheffieldforgemasters.co.uk/)
Also pm'd you mate :thumbsup:

Thanks Don. I didn't know they had a website - when I'd looked in the past - it was just a single contact page. It looks like the history page confirms they were Vickers Ltd at the time of the war.

Cheers

Robert.

I served my apprenticeship at brightside Lane and it was English Steel Corporation when I started.
If you look at the office buildings on the left hand side of Brightside Lane you can see the Vickers 'V' in the stonework on the buildings. There was also big marble steps up to the doorway. They had a sportsclub and fields on Shiregreen Lane there may have been something on what you seek there if the club is still open.

I assume you know you can get old photos from www.picturesheffield.com ?

There was a list of all the fallen soldiers set in marble inside the front door of the main offices years ago.

After BSC took the company over, these tablets were taken down in a modernisation scheme and were stored in the basement of the offices.

Maybe they are still there?

Happy Hunting

The Imperial War Museum website has a section on the UK National Inventory of War Memorials - maybe they can help you.

http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00g00c

The UK National Inventory of War Memorials is an information-gathering project. It aims to create a database of information of all known war memorials in the UK, estimated at between 50,000 to 60,000.

The Inventory is not yet online - but for enquirers who are unable to visit the Museum, Inventory staff are able to answer enquiries via telephone, e-mail and post.

Contact: +44 (0)20 7207 9863 / +44 (0)20 7207 9851
Fax: +44 (0)20 7207 9859
E-mail: memorials@iwm.org.uk


G

Originally posted by PopT
There was a list of all the fallen soldiers set in marble inside the front door of the main offices years ago.

After BSC took the company over, these tablets were taken down in a modernisation scheme and were stored in the basement of the offices.

Maybe they are still there?

Happy Hunting
There are 2 brass tableaux (*sp) on the wall inside Gate 1 by the 2 flags with all the names on.

They are adorned with wreaths regularly, esp on events such as VE, VJ & armistice day.

Actually, on the subject of remembering our fallen heroes (http://www.victorythanks.org/) :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
There are 2 brass tableaux (*sp) on the wall inside Gate 1 by the 2 flags with all the names on.

Thats where I got the list of names I'm researching for

Stannington Roll Of Honour (http://www.stannington.webitsmart.co.uk)

The plaques are where the old security office used to be.

On nights we used to creep up and drop maggots through the security guards keyhole. They were blissfully unaware (probably asleep). The maggots would by nature crawl and hide under furniture. A couple of weeks later the Security guards windows were full of big blue bottle flies. Hmmmm I wonder how they got there

happy days

They're still there - as big as sparows now :hihi:
Must be something in the guard's snapbox?? :heyhey:

If you look at the office buildings on the left hand side of Brightside Lane you can see the Vickers 'V' in the stonework on the buildings.

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I wondered if anyone knew what "V S & M" stands for on the old frontage of the Forgemasters building on Brightside Lane?

There are some metal bosses above the old windows (Gate 1, fronting what is now a car park on the left hand side as you go towards Meadowhall), most of which have a plain "V" logo on them, some have "V S & M" on them.

The only thing I can think of is Vickers Steels and Metals. Any better ideas anyone? :confused:

I served my apprenticeship there in the late 50s till 1968. As far as I am aware VS and M Stood for Vickers Son and Maxim

Thanks Clown! Next question though - whats Maxim?!

Feargal

Put Maxim into the Wikipedia search and you will be able to read all about Maxim..

Hope This helps PopT

type in vickers son and Maxim. This will give you a indication oof how it came about

Thanks Pop T and Clown! I've looked it up on wikipedia, and there's lots of interesting stuff on there, so much diverse history in one company. I'm glad I asked now :)

Dont Know if any one is interested but E.S.C. in the late 50s Had 2 power stations on the river don site generating most of its electric consumption and steam for other proccesses ie the river don steam engine driving the plate mill on the south side. There were a number of gas producing plants feeding the treatment and heating furniss's dotted all over the site. River water was taken from the river don filtered and pumped up to reservoir on Wincobank Hill in order to give a constant head of water round the whole site,the water was used for treatment ie quenching. These pumps were situated at each of the power stations and at the end of brightside lane. The main Offices had an early form of air conditioning Incorporated durring its constructon a central suction machine for the cleaners to hoover up the offices was installed. The air ducts in the basement were of glazed brick to make washing down easy.

Smiths 565

Have you contacted Dean1 as he has already researched the World War 1 Sheffield fallen?

PopT,
I worked at ESC River Don works 62-70.Served my time there.Worked in the West machine shop then the South m/s.I also live in NewZealand.We could be living close.If you are agreeable we could exchange e-mail addresses.Always happy to talk about the old firm and engineering.

Pete.

Hi KiwiPete

I've sent you a private message.

Cheers PopT

Dont Know if any one is interested but E.S.C. in the late 50s Had 2 power stations on the river don site generating most of its electric consumption and steam for other proccesses ie the river don steam engine driving the plate mill on the south side. There were a number of gas producing plants feeding the treatment and heating furniss's dotted all over the site. River water was taken from the river don filtered and pumped up to reservoir on Wincobank Hill in order to give a constant head of water round the whole site,the water was used for treatment ie quenching. These pumps were situated at each of the power stations and at the end of brightside lane. The main Offices had an early form of air conditioning Incorporated durring its constructon a central suction machine for the cleaners to hoover up the offices was installed. The air ducts in the basement were of glazed brick to make washing down easy.

Does anyone remember the name Dickinson? My dad was Foreman Electrician at Brightside Lane for 49 years. He was made redundant in 1971.

Would that be Ted Dickinson?

Clown,
I remember ESC's power station very well also the reservoir.I lived on Limpsfield Rd and as a kid we used to play on Jimmy Childs quarry( Red Hills ) and occationally we would go up to the 'reser', squeeze through the railings and throw stones into the water.The pumping station was opposite the Crown pub.The water from the Don was unbelievably polluted, heaven knows what it did to the inside of the boilers.I have just come across an article in a 1995 Internatioal Stationary Steam Engine journal which says that ESC's power station was commissioned in 1936 and ceased opperation in May 95.There is a lot of other detail of the power station in the article, too much to write here though.

Would that be Ted Dickinson?

Hi PopT - no, Arthur Dickinson. Also at Brightside Lane was Ann, who worked in Reprographics. Alan was at Tinsley and Ken worked on Chambers Lane.

faith.luttre

Sorry wrong Dickinson.

PopT

Hi PopT - no, Arthur Dickinson. Also at Brightside Lane was Ann, who worked in Reprographics. Alan was at Tinsley and Ken worked on Chambers Lane.

Flo,

Did Arthur have 3 brothers Lesley, Charles (Eric) and Harris?

Ta
--
Brinny