Reminisence day for ex-gas works staff

Search for former employees of the South Metropolitan Gas Company

Reminiscence Event

Where: Greenwich Heritage Centre, Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18 4DX
When: 10.30 am, Friday 8th January 2010
Who to contact: Judith Garfield, (office@ech.org.uk, 0208 553 4343) or Claire Days (claire@ech.org.uk, 0208 553 4343)

A search is on for former employees of the South Metropolitan Gas Company to help uncover the hidden stories of the people who made the company what it was. Eastside Community Heritage is looking for people who worked at the Company to share their memories at a reunion to take place at Greenwich Heritage Centre on Friday 8th January 2010.

The South Metropolitan Gas Works was the last gas works to be built in London, the brainchild of George Livesey. He received parliamentary permission to build the works on 140 acres of Greenwich Marshes (now called Greenwich Peninsula) in the December of 1880. In keeping with Livesey’s religious ideals, frivolous decorative features were not a part of his grand design for the works; however the two gas holders were the biggest in Europe. The works were grand, but plain. Livesey later introduced a profit sharing scheme with the workers, although this was a move unpopular with the union as it included a clause preventing the workers from striking.
Despite several problems faced in the early years of the South Metropolitan Gas Works, the works expanded over following years, providing not only employment but a plethora of social activities and venues which the workers could take advantage of.
The event to be held at the Greenwich Heritage Centre will be an opportunity for former employees of the Gas Works to get together and talk about old times. Participants are invited to bring along any old photographs, papers and artefacts to show to others, if they have any.

This is a part of the Working Lives of the Thames Gateway project that aims to record the experiences of working in industry in Havering, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich and Bexley. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Eastside Community Heritage is an independent charity founded in 1993 to record and celebrate the histories of the people of east and south east London.

In 1999 Eastside established the People’s Archive, which is located at the University of East London and holds over 1000 oral histories as well as a large collection of films and photographs.

To find about more about Eastside Community Heritage, please visit our website, www.hidden-histories.org.uk.

Cyber Monday--Free Shipping on Jewelry Orders

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Today only: free shipping on all jewelry orders (within the us) Happy shopping :)
Amber

ArtiZen Gallery Tour-McCall

Located in beautiful McCall, the ArtiZen is one of my absolute fav. places: I have been displaying my work there since they opened a few years back :) A lovely big old Victorian house has been transformed into a unique art gallery/arts center concept: the store holds an eclectic mix of local & regional art, as well as furniture, home accessories, garden items, & more. The three story building is a maze of rooms, halls & stairwells; all open for everyone to enjoy. Art is displayed beautifully in every nook & cranny, along with unique furniture & home decor items: the feel of the place is warm & inviting; with the perfect mix of contemporary & rustic styles.

The ArtiZen even has a modern gourmet kitchen where they host cooking classes & baking parties; see the website for a schedule. There is also a wood-shop, art printing room, ceramics studio, & textiles studio: all under one roof!

That one looks familiar.....

Cool jewelry, eh??

The cutest salt & pepper shakers ever; this collection is from a Boise ceramacist :)

The ArtiZen is located at 300 N 3rd Street: as you drive into McCall from Boise; it's about 1/2 way between the stop-light & the lake: on the left. Check out the gallery website at: www.artizengallery.com for a list of classes & upcoming events. Stop in and visit next time you're in McCall: you will be glad you did!

Amber

McCall--Sculpture for ArtWalk

This summer, the McCall Arts Council chose to include one of my sculptures for the new ArtWalk. Located along the lake in downtown, about 15 sculptures will be installed in the brand new park along the walking path. Yesterday, we went up to move the piece from the ArtiZen Gallery to it's new location....First order of biz: we took it apart & loaded it in the truck; took it around the side to borrow some plug-ins from Mike's wood shop. The base of the piece needed to be trimmed a bit to fit on the stone pedestal in the park, & we had to drill holes for mounting too....Cutting the base; making lots of noise :)The finished cut...

and Kevin gives it a quick touch up to smooth out the rough edges.

flipped over: ready to drill holes...

Drilling away, with the mag-drill--this is one of the coolest tools, like ever! Makes drilling precision holes through thick steel easy....

The drill-bit even looks cool...

And there it is: drilled through 1/2 inch plate in less than a minute :)

Here we are at the park; getting the bolts on the pedestal ready.

Each piece was placed by hand, & then all the bolts were tightened up...

And here it is; all done in it's new home: with a nice view :) It is located in Legacy Park: right in front of Hotel McCall.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to help :)

Amber

Johnsen & Jorgensen question

I came across your web site whilst browsing this evening and wondered if you or any of your members may be able to help me...

My late grandfather, Harry, worked for a company called Johnsen and Jorgensen for many years. They manufactured medical and laboratory glass. I believe their main factory was in the Charlton/Woolwich area. During the war a temporary factory was set up in Hildenborough, Kent (Oakfield Works) due to the bombing and he moved there with the company. The business later transferred to South Wales (Cardiff area) and he again moved with the company.

I would like to find out more information about the factory in Charlton/Woolwich, where it was located, and if there is anything left to see today. If anyone knows anything about the set up in Hildenborough that would be a bonus.

A bit of a long shot I suppose but you never know.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

By the way, you may be interested to know that I write a blog called Kent Today and Yesterday. I have just written a post which includes pictures of the now derelict W T Henley/AEI Cables site in Northfleet which is currently being demolished.

http://kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.com

Best regards,
Glen Humble
kentmoggies@aol.com

Tis the Season for Trophies....

Just finished this trophy up for Hansen-Rice Construction: for their annual "Management of Steel" award. (HR specializes in huge steel buildings, like Walmarts & such... ) This is the big perpetual trophy; names are added to it every year. I used lots of steel construction-related elements: I-Beams, nuts, bolts, specialty hardware, etc. The base is a concrete form that I got out of their yard, & on top of that are concrete saw blades....
I really like the warm colors on this one; the combination of rusty steel, copper, & the dark bronzey color of the plaques contrasts with the shiny silver bolts nicely. The whole thing stands about 2.5 feet tall :)



And these are the beginnings of the AGC annual awards; to be presented at the annual convention in December: at a fancy party. ---I just found the perfect party dress to wear that night, btw--- (more on that later) Each one is slightly different: they are made out of scrap bearings & steel cut-outs. I'll weld the bases on tomorrow; nice heavy wide flange i-beam....
Stay tuned to see the finished pics :)
Amber

Various notes from various sources - Naval Dockyards Society

The latest edition of the Transactions of the Naval Dockyards Society has arrived. It includes an article by Philip Macdougall on three fires in Naval Dockyards in 1840 -'Blame it on the Chartists'. One of these fires was at Woolwich.

This was the third fire - the first two were at Sheerness and Plymouth - and it took place on 6th October. Sadly there is much less recorded about the Woolwich fire than the others - but they were seen as the possible result of some sort of suberversion. A contemporary comment on the Woolwich fire is quoted - 'two foreigners were seen by Royal Arsenal artificers to be wandering at their leisure in the open face of daylight, about that vast emporium of war'.

- but what people walking about in the Arsenal were to do with fires in the Dockyard is far from clear to me!

This is a fascinating article and there are many more in this edition giving all sorts of information and insights into Naval Dockyards.
See www.hants.org.uk/navaldockyard

Various Newsletters and stuff - 2. Woolwich Antiquarians

The WADAS newsletter has some interesting notes about Woolwich Ferry and why it is only running on one boat. Apparently John Burns has had a loss of hydraulic oil in a hard to trace place. It has now been sorted out - and the spare part is now being overhauled. These (now very old) vessels are all being overhauled and repaired

John Burns - was the leader of the 1889 Dock Strike and was the first Labour leader to become a Cabinet Minister

James Newman - was leader of Woolwich Council from 1941.

Ernest Bevin - was the Docker's trade union leader and later Minister of Labour. He was MP for East Woolwich in 1950.

The newsletter also has news of the Olympic events on Woolwich Common, a lecture on Woolwich Town Hall and various local lectures and events - AND the Severndroog Castle By a Brick Scheme.

Lots of New Listings on Etsy

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Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade REFINERII.etsy.com

Lots of new listings for holiday shopping :) And, the October Sale has been extended: happy shopping :)

Amber

Various newsletters and stuff - No. 1 SLAS walks round Greenwich

A number of things have cascaded through the door:

SLAS newsletter - the Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society record their walk round Historic Greenwich led by ineffable Richard Buchanan. I must say they saw all sorts of obscure bits and pieces - and thank you Richard, wish you had asked us to come! (and I daresay you will annotate this)
- they saw -
London and Greenwich Railway and Greenwich Station
Park Vista with a reminder that it was once the main road - plus the Park Wall 1619 and East Lane Conduit 1515 with Henry VIII's arms (1973)
House 1808 for the Auditor of the Royal Naval Asylum - which merged into the Greenwich Hospital School. Next house 1829 for the Commissioner of the Hospital - the two houses were done up Samuel Teulon (famous architect and local resident) as the St.Alfege's Vicarage. They were done up in 1951-1973 and are now the Vicarage and The Chantry.
Cistern in the Park. done up in 1707 for the Royal Hospital
115 Maze Hill with a plaque to Helena Mott designed by Rex Whistler
Vanburgh Castle - with plaque put up by the RAF Benevolent Fund
Westcombe Park Road on the line of the Roman Road from Shooters Hill.
Roman Temple remains in the Park.
Bandstand 1880.
General Wolfe statue - gift from Canada plus bullet holes
Royal Observatory and Greenwich Fair - with a telescope so that people could see the 'corpses of pirates hanging on gibbets'.
Queens House and the Royal Hospital.
Clive Chamber's Tree (see previous blog entries)
McCartney House with plaque to General James Wolfe. built by Andrew Snape. Sgt Farrier to Charles II. 1676.extended by Soane 1802 and called after the owner's mother. Horse hitching column outside.
Princess Caroline's Bath in the Wilderness
Ranger's House.
Crooms Hill - probably pre-Roman - with lots of interesting houses. The rear wing of the Grange might be Paternoster Croft held by the Abbey of Ghent form 918. Main house was built by Sir William Hooker in 1665. Gazebo is by THE Robert Hooke.
Gloucester Circus - with lockable coal hole covers.
Greenwich Town Hall - art deco by Culpin, 1939
and St.Alfege Church.

--------------- and lots more really interesting stuff.

Manchesters Trucks

Kindly supplied by Graham Manchester, here is a photo of one of the Manchester trucks from Charlton.

Interestingly, Corgi have made a model of this truck.

Graham also reports;

'We were the first ones onto the site after the closure of the Gas Works and took up residence in 1976! That was interesting! We were told we had to be off not later than 1996 as the Millennium building was going to be built there (so much for bidding from Birmingham and Manchester!)

Hottest year for years and mutant ladybirds about 1" diameter each which used to dive bomb us and bite us! (among many other stories!)'

Advert from 1930s Mercury

The above advertisement for South Metropolitan Gas Company appeared in the 100th anniversary of the Mercury. It is one of many illustrations to be used in a forthcoming book about the Greenwich Peninsula.

Boy Scout Food Drive-remember to put your stuff out tonight..

Remember to put your stuffs out tonight for the Boy Scouts to pick up in the morning (for those of us who live in the Boise area) Just fill the bag they left on your front door last week, or a box, & place it outside your front door--they take care of the rest. All the donated goods go straight to the food bank to help out those in need. They only accept non-perishable items: anything packaged, boxed, canned, etc.This is a great way to help out; & they make is so easy :) So, take a look in your pantry & cupboards & see what you have to spare: you might be surprised how much you have to give!

Amber

Geodiversity

I am not sure that this is actually straight forward industrial history but I thought it was so interesting people should know more about it. This is about Gilbert's Pit - a site of scientific interest in Charlton. I understand that a recent event was held in the Pit for the local great and good (and that's not me!) by the London Geodiversity Partnership and to show new plans which the council has for the area.
They say Gilbert's Pit as one of the most important geological sites in Britain. The industrial link to it is that the rock face has been revealed because it was a quarry connected to the local glass industry (and Charlton had the biggest glass works in Europe in the 1960s).
The new plans hope to connect the area round Gilbert's Pit with other local parks and open spaces - and to manage it in a way to show its geological importance and to give people access and information about this important site.
There is much of interest there - above the pit is the site of a Romano-British fort and there have been finds of pottery there. In the 18th century it was a semaphore station and later a Home Guard look out. The sand in the pit was used for brass mouldings in the Arsenal and later in the glass works.
The rock formations in the pit show older rocks on top of newer rocks - and this is a puzzle and one of the reasons it is interesting to geologists. The pit is described as a 'reference locality for geologists' giving insights to change in climate over 55 million years.
I realise this is a very brief outline of an important, and rather obscure, subject. There have been reports published on the site - and generally on geodiversity by Government and London Government sources and I am happy to put some references here if people ask for them.

New Yard Art

Made this cute little sculpture last week. Misc. salvaged steel parts, including gears, bearings, bolts, chain, a plow disk, & glass insulators :) It stands about 5 feet tall. Right now, he is welcoming visitors to my house; right next to the front entry (not that I really ever have visitors, but I can pretend). I think he makes a nice addition to the yard; as with most of the pieces I make like this; I'll keep him around for awhile to enjoy, & let all the neighbors see (and comment, if they are so inclined). Then I will probably take him to the gallery in Eagle. I would like to see the patina start developing before he goes...Who knows...maybe I will keep him around for the holidays; might have to put some lights on him :)

A Lovely Fall Day at Home

What a perfect day today...some pics from around the house:



Happy Autumn :)

Teardrops

The latest edition of English Heritage's 'Current Archaeology' mentions something we ought to have known about earlier. This is the Teardrop site in Woolwich, and adjacent to the ferry.

They describe how 'one of the largest sections in London' was cut through a ditch and discovered that the ditch was probably Iron Age in origin and is thought to have enclosed a trading area (I think that means some sort of wharf). They also discovered five pottery kilns - does this also link with the well known kiln now languishing outside the Heritage Centre in its box?? Two of the kilns were 13th/14th century and used for London Ware production - the only such site ever found.
I have written to the team and hope to get more information.

Elsewhere in this edition is a note about Seager's Distillery at Deptford Bridge - which of course was described at the last GIHS meeting by Duncan Hawkins (thank you Duncan). They describe however, for those of you who weren't there, the remains of an 18th century sugar refinery, stonemasons cottages and of course the 19th century gin distillery and a late 19th century iron works.

Join us for First Friday in Eagle--Nov. 6th

Join us this Friday: 4-9 pm at Galerie Belle Ame. See my collection of large outdoor sculpture & a nice selection of funky jewelry too! Wine, nibbles, & fun: hope to see you there :)
179 South Eagle Road--parking is available at Albertson's. For more info, please contact the gallery at 938-7342. www.GalerieBelleAme.com

I'm on JunkMarket Style

Leafy Sail Sculpture is on the front page of JunkMarket Style :) Check it out at www.junkmarketstyle.com

Amber :)