12/1/2023 0 Comments Blackburn files radio echoes![]() People still remember queuing between the lamps at the showrooms to pay their electricity bills," says Jennifer. "I heard all about the electrical appliance retailers Wigfalls (or Wiggie's as it was better known), which had showrooms on Commercial Street near the tram bridge in Sheffield. "The old boys who worked there told me tales of Tinsley's infamous purple rain, a result of the air pollution from Blackburn Meadows which used to soil clean washing as it hung out to dry. ![]() ![]() "It was inspiring to hear first-hand accounts of what it was like to be inside of one of Britain's most technologically advanced power stations during the mid-20th century. Jennifer Rich collected the memories from people who lived near or worked in the power station, to be used in the Audio Art Walk: Initially the Arts Council granted £8000 to launch a prototype of the audio walk, and then in January 2010 an organisation called GreenPrints which encourages young people to improve green spaces awarded £10,000 so that the Echoes team and BCTV could make the environment around Blackburn Meadows cleaner and safer for people. Jennifer worked with sound artist and graphic designer Lewis Heriz who compiled the archive material and memories to create the art and sound walk, and artist Tom Dixon who worked on the visual and technical side of the project, installing the FM transmitters around the walk to enable people to listen to audio histories as they walk around. The fire brigade had come to let him down and unfortunately he slipped through the sling and died.Cultural geographer Jennifer Rich came up with the idea for the Audio Art Walk after her university dissertation about the history of Blackburn Meadows power station and how it was involved in the progress and development of Sheffield during the inter-war and post-war periods. I asked why the fire brigade were there and was told that a man had fallen off the scaffold while they were erecting the towers. One day I went to the gate office for tea mugs. He was an amazing man."Ĭharles Bowser was a 16-year-old joiner's apprentice on the site in 1936. "I was employed by CH Gillam & Son, carpenters and joiners. Mr Gill had his armchair carried up on to the operating floor on the turbine hall and he sat in it like it was a throne, with his bowler hat on and his hands in his waistcoat directing operations. You wouldn't dream of speaking to the foreman unless you had something to say. "Mr Gill the foreman wouldn't let us call the fitters by their first names, it had to be Mr Smee, Mr Hadfield and so on. I was stopped from wearing I studs in my boots as a lad because the turbine hall floor was washed and polished every day. It was wonderful - but very Victorian in the attitudes. "I started as an apprentice in 1952 and stayed there for 24 years. Gordon Sykes from Jordanthorpe phoned Rony with his memories of working at Blackburn Meadows. Jennifer, Tom and Lewis came to speak to Rony Robinson in January 2009 to appeal for people's memories of Blackburn Meadows Power Station. Tinsley Towers were demolished on 24th August 2008 The Echoes of Blackburn Meadows team want to gather memories from people who used to work at Blackburn Meadows or live nearby. a kind of Radio Blackburn Meadows! Your memories He's installing FM transmitters around the walk so that you'll be able to listen to bits of audio histories as you walk around. Tom Dixon works on the artistic side of the project and is also the project's technician. I've been hearing about to the wares of Wigfalls, or Wiggie's as it was better known, which was where electrical appliances could be hired or purchased. Most inspiring of all has been listening to narratives first hand about what it was like to be inside of one of the most technologically advanced power stations in the country during the mid-twentieth century." I've been hearing tales of Tinsley's infamous purple rain, a result of the air pollution from Blackburn Meadows and the culprit for soiling clean washing as it hung out to dry. "Over the recent weeks, I've been busy interviewing the old boys at the power station.
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