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Consett Iron Company & Derwentside Local Heritage Association
Location: Durham
When Billy Robson worked as an engineer in the garage at British Steel, Consett, he would listen to the stories of the older men, reminiscing with tales of Spitfires doing aerobatics around the cooling towers at the end of WWII.
Anxious that such tales would be lost forever, he helped form a project to capture and preserve the history of an industry that had been pivotal to the lives of most of the people of Consett and the surrounding area. Within 20 years of the steel works closing, little evidence remains of the area's industrial heritage.
The project put on a display at the YMCA, which was formerly the site of the infirmary for the steel works. This exhibition brought together all the artefacts, photographs and oral reminiscences that had been unearthed.
This exhibition has remained on permanent display at the YMCA, and is drawn upon daily by other organisations and youth groups who meet in the building.
Billy Robson remains enthusiastic and energetic about keeping the industrial heritage alive. They have designed a badge for the Consett YMCA Juniors football club, taking motifs to represent the mining and steel heritage of Consett. He would now like to take the project further and develop a visitor centre.
Group Name |
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Consett Iron Company & Derwentside Local Heritage Association |
| Project Contact |
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Billy Robson Tel:01207 502 654g |
| Address |
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Consett, Durham |
| Project Postcode |
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DH8 7QY |
| Finishing Date |
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22 February 2002 |
| Local Community Involvement / Partnerships: |
| Many ex-steelworks colleagues were reunited through this project. Young people and schoolchildren learned a great deal about their town's origins and the lives members of their families used to live. |
| Grants: |
Heritage Lottery Fund: £6,402
Nationwide Building Society: £337
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