Weldone Boiler Fluers 1976-77

During my time as photographer in-residence to the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, I photographed the Weldone gang of boiler fluers working at Bancroft Shed, Barnoldswick.

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Stanley Graham, mill engineer, ‘blowing down’ (emptying) the Lancashire boiler ready for fluing. April 1977

‘Blowing off’ and ‘blowing down’ the boiler. Preparations for boiler fluing. December 1976

Stanley Graham, engineer, ‘blowing off’ and ‘blowing down’ the Lancashire boiler (emptying it) ready for fluing. Wakes holiday, July 1976

Only the feet of engineer Stanley Graham can be seen as he works on the fire bars in the Lancashire boiler. Wakes holiday, July 1976

Boiler tenter’s (‘fire-beater’s’) chair during ‘blowing down’ of the Lancashire boiler (emptying it) ready for fluing. Wakes holiday, July 1976

Working in the sole flue beneath the Lancashire boiler, raking fluedust. Easter holiday, April 1976

Fluing the ‘connies’ (economiser pit) beneath the Lancashire boiler. Easter holiday, April 1976

Charlie Sutton in the furnace tube shovelling fluedust. Easter holiday, April 1976

Coffee break while fluing. April 1976

Exiting the side flue beneath the Lancashire boiler, while raking dust. Easter holiday, April 1976

Entering the side flue from the sole flue, beneath the Lancashire boiler, while shovelling fluedust. Easter holiday, April 1976

Fluer taking off his rags (‘fent’). Easter holiday, April 1976

Charlie Sutton, boss of the Weldone gang from Brierfield taking a break duing fluing. Wakes holiday, July 1976

Insurance company boiler inspector on top of one of the furnace tubes inside the Lancashire boiler. Wakes holiday, July 1977

Back to Weldone Boiler Fluers 1976-77, Peter Tatham Steeplejack 1976

Bodleian Libraries Links

Bodleian Libraries | Archive of Daniel Meadows, photographer and social documentarist (CMD ID 12752, 17418, 17823, 18768) | Photographer-in-residence to the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, Jun 1975-4 Sep 2020 | Weldone flue cleaners, c.1976, Apr 1976-Jan 1977

Also:
Meadows' photographic archive of negatives and contact sheets, 1969-1986, Nov 2014 | Negatives and contact sheets 03, Jan-May 1976

Negatives and contact sheets 04, May-Jun 1976

Negatives and contact sheets 05, Jun-Aug 1976