Industrial Heritage

something else in the post:

In a previous edition of Industrial Heritage Richard Cheffins article on the LESC building in Greenwich High Road was reproduced. Now a correspondent to the journal has written:
"The Power Station at Deptford was equipped with reciprocating steam engines made in Bolton by Hick Hargreaves. They were builders of large steam engines, but not as large as that planned by Ferranti and they had to order new machine tools big enough to make the 4 x 10,000HP engines. These engines had spherical hearings features in Hicks engines form the first of their locomotives circa 183q. the engines drove the 10,000 volt alternators with ropes as in a textile mill. The 10,0000 v was taken into London by the side of railway tracks because no council would have such a dangerous voltage over their land. the conductors were concentric copper pipes with paper insulation, the inner being live. Ferranti demonstrated the safety by hammering a chisel through the conductor under power.
100 years ago in 1908 there was a fire under railway arches and a conductor was put out of action. As a temporary expedient supply customers Ferranti used surveying conductors as live with an earth return. he lost about 1,000 volts but it affected telephones, telegraphs and tram cars. the effect was felt as far away as Italy. The disturbance was put down as a severe electrical storm. The beans were spilt just before his death when Ferranti spoke on his easily days.

DHG Warner

This mornings post - lots of stuff for a change - Docklands History Group. There is a report of a talk by Edward Sargeant on Gravesend skiffs. this might not seem to be much about Greenwich but he says "the Gravesend skiff seems to have been derived from the tupe of skiff in use around Greenwich". What is more he talks anout William Warner, who was born in Greenwich in 1832 where he was apprenticed to Shipbuilder Corbettt (who?? tell me more??). He then moved to West Street in Gravesend and starting building skiffs - so - you see - it all comes from round here, not down there. His skiffs all had to be used round Greenwich because the water was too rough down in Gravesend. He had to add a plank to improve the freeboard. Edward wants to start a Kent traditional boat association - and I think we can claim, very happily, that Greenwich is really part of Kent (and it is!!).
Edward is coming to talk to GIHS in the autumn about the Grand Surrey Canal.

linseed oil and tankers

I have a request for information as follows

I would like information about a little tanker which carried molasses from Cantley, Norfolk and linseed oil from Holland (and fuel oil) to and from various wharves in London and I wish to trace information about them to incorporate into a record of her trading routes. In your area I am interested in Greenwich Inlaid Lino Co. Victoria Works, and Greig's Wharf area; The Mollassine Co. Ltd, Tunnel Glucose Refiners - Tunnel Wharf, Thames Soap & Candle Works (Unilever).
I am also particularly interested to find out about Younghusbands Wharf, Rotherhithe Street Lower Pool which I see on my port chart is named as King & Queen Wharf, more or less opposite Shadwell New Basin entrance lock and just downstream of Bellamy's Wharf. Also the run of wharves downstream of the Mar Dyke in West Thurrock marshes to Stone Ness which includes Anglo American oil Co, Caspian Wharf, Jurgens Ltd wharf and Tunnel Cement works wharf, all just upstream of Everards base at Greenhithe.
I would be most grateful if you could point me in the right direction for information.

A whole lot of bits and pieces

Some short notes:-

1. Docklands History Group - forthcoming programme. Events held at the Museum in Docklands
5th March - Fire Fighting on the Thames. David Rogers
2nd April - Introduction to the Port of London Authority Centenary Exhibition
7th May - visit to the Wapping Police Museum.

2. We have a request for information on the fatal gunpowder explosion at Erith in 1964

3. Francis Tin Box Factory. We have a request for information if records exist for this company which was in Blackheath Hill. This is about boxes supplied to troops in the First World War.

4. We have been approached by a marine archaeologist working on the Charlton riverside. He is looking for information about Castle's breakers and about Cory.

5.