User:BulldozerD11/Sandbox3

The Filing Cabinet - (Sandbox3) Items for starting or adding to articles

Thomas Ward Ltd of Sheffield
It all started in 1935, when R.M.S. Olympic was purchased by Sir John Jarvis for £100,000. She was then sold to Thomas Ward Ltd on the understanding that she was to be broken up at Jarrow, on the River Tyne, to try and alleviate the serious unemployment in the North-East of England.
 * http://www.tractordata.co.uk/field_marshall/index.htm - Tractor data ref to T W.Ward Ltd.
 * http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/making_history/makhist10_prog13d.shtml - Elephant
 * http://www.whitestarmemories.co.uk/haltwhistle.htm- R.M.S. Olympic break up (of)

The 1935 auction was conducted by Knight Frank & Rutley over a period of 10 days in November, during which time 4,456 lots were auctioned. The Haltwhistle connection began when Douglas Smith, of the paint firm Smith & Walton, attended the auction with the intention of purchasing panelling and fittings to fit out a new factory building, as an office block and canteen. Smith & Walton became part of Akzo Nobel (Crown Paints) (date ?) Then in 2002 Akzo Nobel decided to close the site and consolidate their operations on their other two UK plants.

It has to be remembered that this was during the depression and this was the cheapest way of obtaining materials for general usage rather than the conservation of any maritime heritage. Having said that all credit must go to the way S&W craftsmen re-installed the fittings in the building.

In the canteen area there was one of the sprung dance floors from Olympic, with panelling from the First Class areas around the walls. The ceiling had the star mouldings from the 1st Class Smoke Room, along with the smoke vents from the same area.

.... Extract from above web link .


 * http://www.ingrt.freeuk.com/04.htm - French built Steam locomotive bought by Wards, now preserved

Witney demolition train
 * http://www.martin.loader.btinternet.co.uk/Witney_Passenger.htm

57xx class 0-6-0PT 9773 stands in the up platform at Witney whilst working a demolition train in the mid 1960s. The low winter sun picks out details on the wagons standing in the down platform, the shadows of the platform fencing also showing clearly. The East Gloucestershire Railway was lifted during 1964/5 by Thomas Ward & Co. Ltd, scrap dealers from Sheffield. The track was lifted from the Fairford end of the line, with Lechlade becoming a marshalling centre for trains of scrap. When Lechlade was dismantled, the next station was used, eventually all the track being removed by rail.


 * http://www.a2a.org.uk/about/contributors/1448-list.asp Sheffield company records archive


 * http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/muck/ - Shipbreaking at Morcombe