Battersea Bridge, London. Made in Derby by the Phoenix Foundry. Opened 1890.

The ironwork of the bridge has been constructed and erected by the Phoenix Foundry Company, Derby, and the granite for the piers and abutments has all been supplied by the Kit Hill Granite Company, Gunnislake. We understand that every stone has gone into its place without any alteration, The arches of the bridge consist of 175 cast iron girders, 

The segmental girders weigh from eight to ten tons each, and the whole of these were cast by the Phoenix Foundry Co.

Here are some photographs of the bridge I took in September 2024

Here is a video I took of Battersea Bridge in September 2024 

If you know of any items around the world that have the mark "Phoenix Foundry Derby" that I have not yet mapped out please get in touch with details.

Thanks
Andy

Former Watson's Esplanade Hotel, Mumbai, India. now known as Esplanade Mansion. Made 1867-71

In Kala Ghoda, Mumbai India stands what was once Watson's Esplanade Hotel. It was the worlds first multi-story habitable building in which all loads are carried by an iron frame.
All of the ironwork for this building was made in Derby at the Phoenix Foundry and shipped over to India between 1865 and 1866 as prefabricated sections.

The hotel was assembled between 1867 and 1869. Its final design was by the civil engineer Rowland Mason Ordish, who was also connected to the design of the roof of St Pancras Station in London... as well as the Crystal Palace in London. Ordish was based in Derby and worked alongside the Phoenix Foundry.

This is a rather interesting video about trying to save the building 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW-Vy7bPCKw&t=23s

Thanks
Andy

Derby Market Hall - Built in 1864-1866 by The Phoenix Foundry, Derby

Derby Market Hall was built in 1864-1866. It is a rare fine example of a Victorian Market Hall.

Rowland Mason Ordish was the engineer, He is noted for the Albert Bridge, London 1873 and the dome of the Albert Hall and his detailed work on the spanned roof of St Pancras Station, London.

The iron roof of Derby Market Hall covers an area of 220ft x 110ft. The roof span is 86ft 6ins with an apex at 64ft It opened on May 29th 1866.

The ironwork was made by J. & G Haywood & Co of Phoenix Foundry, Derby.

The PHŒNIX FOUNDRY DERBY made stationary steam engines, cast iron roofs, bridges, girders, water tanks, Mile Posts, Bridges, Kiosks, Markets, Agricultural machinery.

Some other items of note made by the Phoenix Foundry in Derby are the Town Bridge in Taunton, Somerset. Battersea Bridge in London. Stockport Market Hall, Manchester. And best of all Watson's Hotel (Esplanade Mansion),India's oldest surviving cast iron building made in Derby in 1860

See my 360 degree photograph I took inside the market back in 2012

https://worldwidepanorama.org/go/n7532?v=-12.79l-89.05l70

Map location of Derby Market Hall

Railway bridge on Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, Ireland made in Derby by Phoenix Foundry.

I would like to thank someone on Twitter for pointing this new find out to me. Twitter images thanks to readingthesigns.weebly.com

Its a Railway bridge on Lower Glanmire Rd, Cork, Ireland which was made in Derby by Phoenix Foundry.

This railway bridge would have probably been built for the Cork and Youghal Railway around 1856 but until I get some hard facts I cant say for sure as it may have been added later on by the Great Southern and Western Railway around 1892. If anyone knows for sure when it was built then please get in touch.

This is the last railway bridge on the East side before the line enters Cork Kent Railway Station (originally called Glanmire Road Station), Its great to see this beidge still in use today

Here are two photographs from Twitter.
This one is a lovely clear shot of the makers badge that clearly shows it was proudly made at the Phoenix Foundry in Derby.

Here is a photograph of the bridge from Flickr by Finbarr O'Neill :





Here is a Google Streetview of the bridge as seen from Water Street junction (drag view around with the mouse) :





In 2013 a HGV hit this bridge and it didn't do it any damage at all which just goes to show how well made things were back then !
Here is a photograph of the lorry that hit the bridge :

July 2013 - A lorry hits this bridge !

thanks
Andy

Derby Guildhall entrance cast iron pillars made by The Phoenix Foundry Derby in 1842.

In the entrance to the Guildhall in Derby you will find some Cast Iron Pillars made by The Phoenix Foundry Derby in 1842.

See the pillars in my 360 degree VR Photographs.
I captured these 360° photographs in April 2012 :
Derby Guildhall Entrance, 360 degree view near entrance to Market Place.
Derby Guildhall Entrance, 360 degree view in the middle of the entrance.
External 360 degree views:
Derby Guildhall, 360 degree view from the rooftop during renovation in Feb 2008.
Derby Guildhall, 360 degree view from Derby Market Place.

Note: Adobe Flash version 9> and a broadband connection are required to view them.

The Guildhall we see standing on Derby Market Place today was built in 1842 and designed by architect Henry Duesbury. The ground floor of the building is actually from a previous Guildhall designed by architect Mathew Habershon, built in 1828. Habershon's building was destroyed by a fire on the night of the 21st October 1841. These cast iron pillars manufactured by the Phoenix Foundry were probably added to the design to help fireproof the new building. Looking at the horizontal beams that the pillars support I think they may also be cast iron, what do you think?

This draughty thoroughfare was for many years the sale pitch for Monk's Pikelets and Oatcakes. The entrance has distinctive wooden cobbles which have stood the test of time.

In the vaulted entrance to the Guildhall are twelve large cast iron pillars as you can see in my photograph below.
You have probably walked past these pillars many times and not really payed any attention to them, Until recently I did not realise they are cast iron pillars but I confirmed this fact with a magnet.


On the support base of all twelve columns (painted red) you will notice that they are clearly marked PHŒNIX FOUNDRY DERBY as you can see in my photograph.



Map Location:
Click HERE to see the exact location of these pillars on my World Map of items made by the Phoenix Foundry Derby.

If you know of any items around the world that have the mark "Phoenix Foundry Derby" that I have not yet mapped out please get in touch with details.

Thanks
Andy

Where was the Phoenix Foundry Derby located?

Here is a tiny section from an old map of 1899. I have marked the Phoenix Foundry site in red so you can see where it was located. I have marked the River Derwent and the Derby Canal Phoenix arm in blue.
Compare this with the modern map below.
The Phoenix Foundry was located on an island known as Canary Island due to it being surounded by canals.
The Phoenix arm of the Derby Canal has a lock on it called Phoenix Flood Lock which you can see marked as Lock on the right side.

Click the map to view a larger version. Phoenix Foundry area marked in red.

Phoenix Street in Derby was named after the Phoenix Foundry, Here is a photograph I took in March 2012 of the orignal Cast Iron Street Sign still in place today.


Here is a photograph I took in March 2012 from the Cathedral Green area of Derby.
Those new apartments you can see across the River Derwent have been built on the
site of the former Phoenix Foundry :


If you know of any items around the world that have the mark "Phoenix Foundry Derby" that I have not yet mapped out please get in touch with details.

Thanks
Andy

Phoenix Foundry entry in Glover's Derby. Printed 1843.

Glover's Derby is a well known local reference book described in the front as "The History and Directory of the Borough of Derby, Intended as a  guide to strangers visiting the town".
By Stephen Glover, published in 1843.

This book has an entry for The Phoenix Foundry Derby as follows :

The Phœnix Foundry, Nottingham Road, Derby - Mr James Haywood the proprietor of these works, and a partner in the extensive ironmongery establishment in the Market Place, manufacturers stoves, kitchen ranges, Silvester's patent stoves for halls and churches, and other castings for ironmongers.Bridges, roofs, tanks. for railway columns, girders, palisading, and every description of ornamental castings, for architects and builders.

At these works were made the castings for the bridge over the Nottingham Road and other bridges on the North Midland Railway, also a large proportion of the iron work for the erection of the railway station at Derby, and whole of the girders, columns and other castings required in the building of the Royal Exchange, London.