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Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston

Thomas Blackburn and Sons

A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston

When I am out and about, there aren't many things I don't survey with regard to trying to understand their historical context.  One of the things I am always looking for are old place signs.  I am keen to identify where they have originated and I'm particularly happy if I can trace them back to Preston.  It's not uncommon that I do.

Many around Lancashire were made at Thomas Blackburn and Sons.  I have spotted them in lots of places, but the most recent one was in Langho.  If you have ever spotted them before, then you will probably recognise the design.  The casting that makes the pillar normally has the name on.


A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston
A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston


A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston
A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston


A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston
A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston 


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I haven't been able to find a great deal of information but, looking at 'Grace's Guide To British Industrial History', it appears that the Company was founded in 1857.  By 1922 it was owned C. Seward and Co and in 1936 it became a Public company.

John Blackburn (circa 1871 - 1939) was recorded as being one of the directors of Thomas Blackburn and Sons.  From that point of view, I am assuming that he was one Thomas' sons, giving rise to the company name. 

In 1949 the company was recorded as being, fabricators in steel, constructional steelwork, iron castings, railings and gates, metal windows & farm implements.


In 1961 they were included on Dun and Bradstreet's list of Key British Enterprises.  At that time, they were noted as being constructional engineers and plate fabricators with 200 employees.

The company ran and advertisement campaign called "Building Through the ages", which featured in various trade magazines during the late 1940s and early 1950s.


Building Through the Ages




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A Milestone Society newsletter from 2010 has an article with the following information included:


"MIXED MEDIA FINGERPOSTS IN FURNESS"


"Vintage fingerpost activity has now extended to Furness in Cumbria with a magnificent restoration on the A595 in Kirkby-in-Furness, near Ulverston. The original counties in Cumbria each had distinctive styles for their fingerposts. Lancashire-over-Sands used the same style as the rest of Lancashire. There used to be a fine example of a Lancashire "mixed media" fingerpost, prevalent after World War 1, at Newby Bridge (SD369863). Also, sadly, long gone, is the Leyland bus seen on the bridge in the 1930s (photograph by Mary C.Fair, courtesy of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle). The fingerpost in question, with its massive cast-iron posts was made by Thomas Blackburn & Sons, Ltd, Preston (Fig 13). The shaped wooden arms were bolted to cast-iron stubs. The letters were die-pressed into aluminium plates, using the then newly developed technology for car number plates. Similar cast-iron posts were also used for village signs, still to be seen. Most of the original fingerposts have been replaced by modern signposts. But not all! Some 20 of these posts remain, particularly in Low Furness and the Cartmel Peninsula. There is also one by the bridge in Coniston, but most are in a sorry state and few still have the wooden arms and aluminium plates."  


A Milestone Society newsletter from 2010 with an article about "MIXED MEDIA FINGERPOSTS IN FURNESS"
A Milestone Society newsletter article from 2010



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Memories of a Coronation Street legend


The actor Roy Barraclough MBE was born in Preston on 12th July 1935.  He was probably best known for his role as Alec Gilroy, the landlord of the Rovers Return, in the long-running British TV soap Coronation Street.  Although, I personally will always think of him as part of double-act Cissie and Ada with comedian Les Dawson.  Roy played the part of Cissie Braithwaite.

Until I was trying to find out more about the company Thomas Blackburn and Sons, I didn't realise that he once trained as a draughtsman and worked at Thomas Blackburn’s foundry in Preston.


Roy Barraclough MBE, born in Preston, as 'Cissie' with comedian Les Dawson
Roy Barraclough MBE, born in Preston, as 'Cissie' with comedian Les Dawson


He was born in Deepdale, and was educated at Deepdale Secondary School and then later the Harris Technical College.

On my future travels, it's now going to be difficult to not think of the pair gossiping over the garden wall, when I see a place sign like this.


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There are other examples of Thomas Blackburn and Sons that can be seen in and around the city of Preston.  This manhole cover is situated near to the now demolished houses by the former Vernon's Mill in Penwortham.  From that point of view, I am sure of the likely future fate of this one.


A manhole cover situated around the now demolished houses by the former Vernon's Mill in Penwortham
A manhole cover situated near the now demolished former Vernon's Mill in Penwortham

There is a new housing development in the area, called 'Penwortham Mills'.  I think this manhole cover was for the houses, as opposed for the main sewerage system.  It will possibly be taken away for scrap. 


The works was located at  the Hermon Forge, off Hermon Street in Ribbleton, Preston.  The foundry can be seen on these two aerial photographs that were taken in 1932.

Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd and environs, Preston, from the south-east, 1932

Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd - Britain from Above EPW038861 (1932)
Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd - Britain from Above EPW038861 (1932)


Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd and environs, Preston, 1932

Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd - Britain from Above EPW038863 (1932)
Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd - Britain from Above EPW038863 (1932)


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Further reading and sources of information


Thomas Blackburn and Sons

Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Thomas_Blackburn_and_Sons


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MIXED MEDIA FINGERPOSTS IN FURNESS

THE MILESTONE SOCIETY Newsletter July 2010

https://www.milestonesociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NL19.pdf


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The Architects' Journal 1950-05-04: Vol 111 Issue 2882

https://usmodernist.org/AJUK/AJUK-1950-05-04.pdf


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The Architects' Journal 1952-02-07: Vol 115 Issue 2971

https://usmodernist.org/AJUK/AJUK-1952-02-07.pdf


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Memories of a Coronation Street legend
Published 16th June 2017 by the Lancashire Evening Post

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/memories-of-a-coronation-street-legend-1110414


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Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd and environs, Preston, from the south-east, 1932.
epw038861 ENGLAND (1932). Britain from Above
This image has been produced from a damaged negative.

https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw038861


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Thomas Blackburn and Sons Ltd and environs, Preston, 1932
EPW038863 ENGLAND (1932). Britain from Above

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW038863


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J Blackburn: proposal, Mar 1918.   Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 
IMechE Library - Reference code IME/2/2/35/1/39

https://archivecat.imeche.org/records/IME/2/2/35/1/39


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Location: West View, Preston PR1, UK

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