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wee minx

Barrowfield Leather Works

Had a day out at Barrowfield Leatherworks  in Dalmarnock the other day...great time and lots of photos taken
I can't find out anything about the factory at all, so hopefully some one else knows something and can post the information here..I'll just post some pics.



Fjord

A panorama of the cutting and pattern room. Dunno much about it's history but going by the paperwork and blueprint's dates it back to the 1930's at least.

It made high quality bespoke leather products for various clients from Railway Companies to the MOD and British Telecom to name a few. Unbeknown to me until now I've been issued with a few of their products by my employer over the years. I've still got one of them but it could do with a few repairs due to wear and tear.      

Fjord

Among other things technical and scientific there were box loads of ex BT test rig cases of all shapes and sizes not to mention actual prototype test rig equipment that had been sent in for the purposes measurement.  


Stuball

Quote:
Established in 1892, the Barrowfield Leather Company has a long tradition of supplying high quality industrial products for the UK and World markets. The company manufacture a comprehensive range of leather protective clothing. These include high quality welders jackets and overalls used on oil platforms and construction sites nationwide. Accessories such as aprons, welders sleeves, spats, etc., are also available, together with tool bags and tool holders.

SOURCE

On some further digging about, I saw a list that could be a list of registered company documents at Company House but the contents werent viewable and the webpage did'nt clearly state if they were real or just a list.

And finally..... found this entry on a certain well known directory


Quote:
Barrowfield Leather Co Ltd

Unit 11, West Calder Workspace, Society Place, West Calder, West Lothian EH55 8EA
Tel: 01506 872222

Classification: Leathergoods


Now we know where they went.... their WEBPAGE appears to be defunct
james73

Nice pics.  



James H
Alex Glass

Thanks Minx for starting a new thread on this topic. I am sorry about the delay in uploading my photos. Been busy since the visit but will hopefully get some time on Sunday to get my photos uploaded.

Well done Stu in finding some information on this business. Hopefully more information will be found now that we know something about a fantastic wee business that has been in operation for over 100 years.

It was great to see some of the products that were produced from to Barrowfield Leather Company. It is interesting to hear from Fjord how he had been supplied with products from here without knowing where they came from until now
wee minx

Here is some stuff I managed to find on general leather manufacture in Glasgow


The art of tanning and manufacturing leather has been one of the leading branches
of industry in Glasgow for ages. Far back in the reign of Charles II.
the following curious entry was inserted, and still exists in the records of the burgh:-


"The saide day the saids Provest, Bailies, and Counsall, maid report that they had
considdered John Woddrops petition, with the loss of his hydes that was takin out
of his holls and laide on vpon the sydes of the houssis for saving them from the
lait fyre in Gallowgaite, which they fund to be very considderable, and therfoir
for helping to repair the samyne they thought fitt to gif him vp his band of nyne
hundreth and fyftic merks monie, &c."

Hoossis    brilliant
Scary

Great pics
Alex Glass

Some booklets on the regulations covering the manufacturing of leather.





Alex Glass

Inside the Leather Works



Rest area





The tools of the trade











Alex Glass

From this



To these





















wee minx

Excellent Alex, I was watching you take pics too...very adept at it so ye were
Alex Glass

Hardly Minx -    - the last two were out of focus but they were good examples of the leather products that I included them anyway.

Been doing a little research on Barrowfield Leather Works.

I found this reference on Google -

Quote:
Established in 1892, the Barrowfield Leather Company has a long tradition of supplying high quality industrial products for the UK and World markets. The company manufactures a comprehensive range of leather protective clothing. These include high quality welder’s jackets and overalls used on oil platforms and construction sites nationwide. Accessories such as aprons, welders sleeves, spats, e...


There are some entries in the Glasgow Trades Directories


1893

Quote:
John Boag – Leather Works, 48 French Street, Bridgeton, ho. 18 Newhall Terrace

Barrowfield Oil and Colour Works, 48 French Street, Bridgeton, (James Storer & Co)


1904

Quote:
John Boag – Barrowfield Leather Works, 48 French Street, Bridgeton,


1933-34

Quote:
Barrowfield Leather Co, Ltd, tanners, curriers, machinery belts, hose pipe and hydraulic leather manufacturers, Barrowfield Leather Works, 123 Colvend Street, Bridgeton, S.E. tel 1135 and 1136 Bridgeton.

John Morrison, Director, (of Barrowfield Leather Co. Ltd.); ho. Slochnacraig, Greenlees Road, Cambuslang.

William Primrose, Director (Barrowfield Leather Co. Ltd., 123 Colvend Street, S.E.) ho., 5 Cleveden Drive, Burnside.

242 Reid Street, Bridgeton, S.E., Barrowfield Leather Co. Ltd.



Looks like it started out sharing premises with a paint shop at 48 French Street. Moving to other premises and recorded at 123 Colvend Street and other premises at 242 Reid Street.


There is a photo on Scran which refers to a building built in about 1878 in Solway Street this is mentioned as Barrowfield Leather Works.
Alex Glass

Attached to the Barrowfield Leather Works building is a Joiners Workshop.

Not in the best of condition and full of dust from off-cuts of MDF.









Scary

It`s interesting to see these pics as I have been in charge of demolishing 2 leather works, one in Bridge of Weir and one in Greenock,
The Bridge of Weir one had a connection to Bridgeton and the health and safety plan gave the history back to the 18th century I wish I had kept it now  
Alex Glass

It is strange how things work out Scary. Sometimes items come your way and you don't think of the significance of them until the opportunity has passed you by.
Scary

True Alex, very true, there was all sorts of history attatched to the Bridge of Weir works and one of the sheds was a former airplane hangar, I wish I had been more aware and got a camera  
Still it looks an interesting place there, if another chance comes up to get in (before it gets burned down) give me a shout
Alex Glass

Will do Scary

Now that you are clued up I bet you don't come across such a find again
Scary

Alex Glass wrote:
Will do Scary

Now that you are clued up I bet you don't come across such a find again


Par for the course Alex  Hindsight is a great thing, I was always interested in the history, but never thought at the time to take pics, the internet has made me more aware and folk like yourself digging up history and getting actual access to these places raises my awareness
glasgowken

Great place and photos.

Is this factory closed down ?   Be a shame if all the stuff and tools were dumped.
wee minx

Stuball















As always, full set viewable HERE
HollowHorn

Great work, folks, really enjoyed the photos.

Hmmmm.......
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/n...ongo-drummer-dies-of-anthrax.html
wee minx

Thank HH...pity some of the HGers didn't go
HollowHorn

Who turned up, hon, do a list  
wee minx

HollowHorn wrote:
Who turned up, hon, do a list  

Who's the wee minx now
wee minx

So...no one else get this one then?
Deffo not the dart board
Fjord you like leather...no?
wee minx

Ooops. sorry about the pics at the beginning..just re-organising them..will get them back on later Alex and stuballs are great anyway
wee minx

HollowHorn wrote:
Great work, folks, really enjoyed the photos.

Hmmmm.......
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/n...ongo-drummer-dies-of-anthrax.html


Jeeso , I was kicking up a storm too
Alex Glass

glasgowken wrote:
Great place and photos.

Is this factory closed down ?   Be a shame if all the stuff and tools were dumped.


GK the company has moved out. I am not sure of their current status but everything left will need to be cleared out.

Great photos Stu.

Minx it would be good to see your photos as well. We all take different photos and yours are important to making sense of this thread
wee minx

Alex Glass wrote:
glasgowken wrote:
Great place and photos.

Is this factory closed down ?   Be a shame if all the stuff and tools were dumped.


GK the company has moved out. I am not sure of their current status but everything left will need to be cleared out.

Great photos Stu.

Minx it would be good to see your photos as well. We all take different photos and yours are important to making sense of this thread


Yip Alex...I'll get it sorted ASAP
Alex Glass

Thanks Minx

Looking forward to seeing your photos again

I an sure Ken will have a look in at some point and it would be good for him to see what we were doing while he waited for us.
glasgowken

Alex Glass wrote:

GK the company has moved out. I am not sure of their current status but everything left will need to be cleared out.

Ah. It'd just be a shame if it all ended up in a skip. Not sure who could use the stuff though.
Alex Glass

Anybody with an ebay account
LowLight

I was out a walk down that way today so I got a wee shot of the outside.

cybers

That red and white trailer unit has been there for probably 22years lol i remember this from when i worked for the Cooncil in Baltic Lane as a struggling student.  
LowLight

It looks it too. And before anyone asks, aye a did have a rake through the bin at the door. Who wouldn't?
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