Marsh Lane Bridge, Barton Hill - ?1920s and 2014 - This bridge carries Marsh Lane over the Feeder Canal from Barton Hill to Feeder Rd. The canal was built between 1804-9 at the same time as the Floating Harbour was constructed - its role was to “feed” water into the Float in order to maintain the water level in the harbour. However it also provided canal access from the harbour and soon industries began to develop along the banks of the Feeder, changing for ever the pleasant countryside through which the canal had been built. One of these industries was the Netham Chemical Works which grew to occupy nearly 40 acres of land in Barton Hill. A range of chemicals were produced here including sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda and sal ammoniac. The waste products of the various processes were dumped nearby forming what was locally called the Brillos, an artificial hill which can be seen in the background of the 1920s photo. The Brillos were a moon-like landscape of mounds and valleys of potentially toxic waste which, although forbidden to public access, became a popular playground for the children of Barton Hill. Rising above the Brillos in the photo is the base of one of the chimneys of the works, the largest and most prominent of which, at 300 feet high, was known as the “Netham Monster”. Chemical production ceased in 1949 but the Brillos remained and, from 1952 to 1956, the Civil Defence Corps used the unusual landscape as a major rescue training ground, occupying some of the works’ buildings as a divisional HQ. Since then the Brillos have been levelled and grassed over, as shown by the Now photo, and is now Netham Park with playing fields and its own pavilion. The banks of the Feeder Canal have also been planted with trees and shrubs giving a glimpse of what must have been here before the canal was excavated. An example of a T&N where the Now is better than the Then.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:59:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015