Industrial http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/ http://www.eblah.com en Paisley Power Stations http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1280007398/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1280007398/#num1
Paisley
The RCAHMS site has three references for power stations in Paisley, the original corporation one, which I believe is still standing, was at Blackhall street, grid ref NS 4897 6337, this was opened in 1899 and closed in 1930. This was replaced with a new station opened in 1923 at Ferguslie (it might have been called Ferguslie Mills) which was closed in 1957, RCAHMS doesn’t seem to list this one, it does have a reference to a “central power station at Ferguslie Thread Works” grid ref  NS 46725 63234. It also has a reference to a power station at the “Seedhill Finishing Works”  grid ref NS 4925 6357. Both of these seem to be associated with industrial works and not a big public supply, therefore if any can give me a location, grid ref, any details or even a photograph of the Ferguslie one which was latterly operated by the SSEB I would be most grateful.

It is a while since I have been to Paisley and really looked at the town but I fear there are none of the old Power stations left standing.   The area of Blackhall St. has been redeveloped mostly under a Morrisons Supermarket as far as I recall.  I don't think there is anything left of the Ferguslie Mills, again as far as I am aware it is all covered with tickytacky, sorry luxury housing.  Have a look at the Glasgow Johnstone canal page as the gallery was taken a few years ago and might yield something.  I don't think I have been near Seedhill for donkeys.

The next time I am in the area I'll have a gander.]]> Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:36:38 The Fox Abandoned building - Blantyre http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1278119193/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1278119193/#num1
This is the building on Google

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?.....284&t=h&z=19

Anyone any idea what it was used for? There are no signs on the side of it etc, only a very small power sub station type thing with a Scottish Power plaque on the gate saying "Priory" on it. I took a wander through the bushes to the train tracks and just up from the building there is the remains of what looks like over bridge supporting walls on either side.

Many thanks,

Steven
]]> Sat, 3 Jul 2010 02:06:33 Steven Gairletter Lead Mine http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1277495973/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1277495973/#num1
I was unable to find the mine but did find the probable remains of a bridge ditto of a corrugated iron hut and a set of fence stakes apparently fixed together.  I am hoping Andy or another member can tell me where the mine is in relation to the finds and is it an adit, i.e. a horizontal entrance tunnel.


Having just read your previous post I fear it has collapsed as there is an obviously new gulley by the end of the road and, at burn level what looks like the remains of an entrance.]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:59:33 The Fox Paton's Mill http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1275427353/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1275427353/#num1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8620732.stm]]> Tue, 1 Jun 2010 22:22:33 The Fox Maryhill replica Clyde Puffer http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1275344282/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1275344282/#num1 Ardmaleish boat yard back in 2004.

Intended to take people on tours of the Forth and Clyde canal, it seems that Maryhill has lain at the yard for the past two or three years without an owner, but has now found a new owner.

31st May photo - Zak photos at pbase.com

I'd like to say I knew the correct name of this craft, however, if you look at the various photographs that have appeared over the years, and hunt down the write-ups that have appeared online since she was built, you'll just end up as confused as me.

I had settled on 'Mary Hill' at one point, as this is how the name is depicted on the page dedicated to the build on the Ardmaleish boat yard web site, but...

If you look at the pics, then the name appears in capitals, and is clearly written as one single word.

To be honest, I have simply gone with 'Maryhill' (all one word) because that is what anyone who spots the craft and reads the name painted on her hull sees.

It may be right, it may be wrong, but at least I have a consistent reason and justification for using this version.]]> Mon, 31 May 2010 23:18:02 Apollo Inchgreen Drydock http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274998135/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274998135/#num1
http://www.catchingphotons.co.uk/blog/?p=401

Not sure if I've got the permissions to start a new page, but happy to write the text if someone alse can set it up ]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 23:08:55 BenCooper Secret files show concern over Ravenscraig closure http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274391865/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274391865/#num1
Quoted Text
Documents released to the public reveal politicians' worries that shutting the Ravenscraig steelworks would be seen as a "betrayal".

The South Lanarkshire site was closed prematurely in January 1992.

About 1,200 jobs were cut at the site soon after earlier closures had affected about 6,000 jobs in the area.

Officials were briefed on the "serious political consequences which will follow" for John Major's Conservative government.

Under an agreement on industry privatisation, British Steel were meant to keep the plant running until 1994. However, a fall in pre tax profits from £307m to £19m led to the decision to close the plant.

The revealed documents, some of which were copied to John Major, show how Scottish Secretary Ian Lang had tried to persuade British Steel chairman Sir Robert Scholey to leave the plant "ticking over" until the market conditions improved.

BBC News - Secret files show concern over Ravenscraig closure]]> Thu, 20 May 2010 22:44:25 Apollo SSEB cable markers http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274312807/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1274312807/#num1
I'd almost forgotten about this one, and as far as I can recall, it's the only convenient example nearby. I have been trying to think of others, and been looking, but no more have popped up in my usual haunts.

As with similar markers, eg GPO, this has lost its numbers, which would have been metal and slotted into the space provided.

]]> Thu, 20 May 2010 00:46:47 Apollo Gas pipeline markers http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1273107381/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1273107381/#num1
In this respect, I'm thinking of the ordinary 'gravestone' type that can be seen on most roadsides, presumably in the hope that when yet another hole is added to the thousands that already populate out roads, the contractor will try not to dig through the marked gas pipe - which can waste your day in a fairly major way. These are generally clearly marked, with little need for speculation as to purpose, unless the brown tag plate has been stolen/removed, which is quite common as they are only attached to a blank and empty space provided on the front of the 'gravestone'.

However, in this particular case, I'm referring to the less common form of marker that comprises a white pole topped off with a little orange house with a pitched roof - see below.

For the simple reason that I had never been close enough to one of these markers to examine it properly, I had (wrongly) assumed that the little roof was arranged to provide a weatherproof vent, and the pole was connected to 'something down below' that might accumulate gas, and become a hazard.

As usual, the assumption did its job well, and proved that making one is notoriously unreliable, and a proper check is always worth the effort, if possible.

A pair of these little house pipeline markers lie beside the main Glasgow Road leading into the east end of Uddingston, and when I passed them the other day, I noticed that one had lost its 'roof'. As an aside, there are two ordinary 'gravestone' gas pipeline markers embedded in the grass verge immediately across the road, making it easy to see where the pipeline lies beneath this stretch of road.

The pics below are pretty much self-explanatory. Suffice to say the little house with the orange pitched roof is a completely closed object, and could never function as any sort of vent. And, it completely closes the top of the white pole, so it has no other function, other than that of being a highly visible marker.

As I say, never trust an assumption, unless it's very well founded.

Just for completeness, I grabbed a pic showing the detail of the cover over the gas valve buried near the undamaged marker, the casting clearly shows its purpose.

The broken 'house' was found lying in the adjacent pasture, and must have received a fair old whack to break it completely off the pole, as the plastic construction is clearly not thin and flimsy, and it's pretty high to reach with a decent kick:

]]> Thu, 6 May 2010 01:56:21 Apollo Invincible? http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1270580788/ http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/forum/m-1270580788/#num1


You can't see in the picture, but it says "INVINCIBLE" very faintly next to the bow. The hull profile doesn't look anything like any of the HMS Invincibles - this yard also built racing yachts, but this doesn't look like one of them either. Very puzzling ]]> Tue, 6 Apr 2010 20:06:28 BenCooper