Sankeys Bridge over Canal at Bradley
Regarding the survey madeof the Bridge over the Canal at Bradley
Since this subject was raised in May, I have been looking for sources that might clarify the situation.
In brief,
The works known as Bankfield in the development area is actually quite a conglomeration of different sites.
With the assistance of Mike Shaw, Archeological adviser to Wolverhampton and Walsall Councils, I have been told the area concerned includes the offside of the canal from Pothouse Bridge to Glasshouse Bridge and the towpath side from Baldwins Works to Banks Bridge.
The 1936 New Transformer Shop does not appear to be in the Development area.
This essentially includes the works and features formerly known as Pot House Bridge Ironworks, Bradley Field Ironworks, Pothouse Bridge Wharf, Bovereaux Iron & Tinplate Works, Bovereaux Furnace Basin, Bankfield Ironworks, the site of Barbors Wharf and Crane and parts of various collieries.
Bankfield Works was as it name implies ajacent to the collieries formerly worked by Thomas Banks & Sons, on the towpath side immediately west of Glasshouse Bridge and was served by a canal basin that passed under the towpath.
What is known as Bankfield today includes the Bovereaux Ironworks formerly belonging to William Balswin & Sons and subsequently Thompson, Hatton & Co, Hatton & Sons and finally Hattons. These works were up for sale in 1899. The sales plan shows a bridge over the canal at the location of the present bridge, which was also shown on the 1880's Ordnance Survey and probably was erected to facilitate the movement of minerals and pigs from the Bovereaux Furnaces and Collieries.
Hattons works included forges and a tinplate facility. There were canal side wharves, either side of the bridge, alongside the BCN and plans indicate these were covered. Joseph Sankey purchased the site and rebuilt the works, taking part of the earlier buildings and adapting the rest for the pressing trade.
The early bridge was probably taken down, although perhaps not completely, and I have yet to find a mention in BCN records regarding this.
In 1919 Sankeys were taken over by Lysaghts and during 1920 Lysaghts became part of GKN. In November 1921 an agreement was made with the Great Western Railway for a siding into the works. The railway siding was made from the existing tracks serving the GWR Bilston Interchange Basin. The line was a single track that eventually divided into two tracks.
About the same time Sankeys erected a new warehouse and packing department on land adjacent. These new building were joined to the Main Press Shop by the Bridge, that is the subject of concern. Two 5 ton travelling cranes carried items across the waterway within the framework of the bridge.
I am still trying to find a date for the building of the bridge, but would may have been done in the 1922/23 period. Sankey's confirmed boundaries with the BCN at this time.
Ray Shill
Industrial Historian
19 September 2007
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