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This is one of the bigger sites in Sheffield although it doesn’t get the attention that George Barnsley’s, The Courts or Cannon Brewery gets. Nothing special architecturally for the outside, it’s easy access and well trashed but its sheer size and the fab street art inside make it worth while exploring. There are some good views to be had from the roof but we declined that particular part of the place. Explored with non-member S-Kempy. Here’s the history bit.
Im1945Benn-Ridgeway2 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The history of Sheffield’s former William Ridgway Tools factory (also known as Parkway Works) is a complicated one. It used to manufacture augers, bits, wood-boring and motorising tools. It was originally founded in 1878 and soon became a private company in 1909. The current building was constructed some time in the 1930s. William Ridgway Tools merged with Record Tools in 1972 to form Record Ridgway Tools Ltd. Record were a fellow Sheffield company with a reputation for producing quality clamps, wrenches, vices and cutters. They were set up by Charles J Hampton with the help of his two sons in the early 1900s having fallen out with his brother Joseph in 1898.
The enlarged company now consisted of 14 UK Companies with 5 overseas companies. A second merger with Marples who Ridgway had earlier purchased an equal 50% in in 1962 along with Record ensued. Marples, a woodwork tools company, resulted in the company changing its name to Record Marples Tools. Record Marples was itself taken over by the Swedish hardware manufacturer AB Bahco in 1982. A management three years later in 1985 returned the company to British ownership. However, the company struggled financially and went into administration in 1998. It was then acquired by US-based Irwin Tools in 1998 but was closed down soon after as the American owners moved production to China.
OK...here are the pictures!
Ridgway tools here we go:
img9870 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On the way in:
img9810 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9811 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…with nature knocking at the door:
img9869 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some lovely Coloquix work here:
img9815 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Then on to the first large downstairs place:
img9816 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9825 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9827 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not too sure of the artist’s name here:
img9818 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…or this one:
img9835 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Think this one is by Color(?):
img9820 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Apart from the graff, the side-buildings are trashed and empty:
img9832 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…except for the old spade:
img9834 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But our friend Coloquix has been very busy:
img9821 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Someone forgot to fill up the hand wash:
img9823 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and the basin, well…don’t ask:
img9838 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A second trashed and bare downstairs room:
img9837 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Let’s go up-stairs:
img9841 by HughieDW, on Flickr
It’s quite airy:
img9842 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And again quite trashed:
img9849 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And there’s yet more graff:
img9854 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But there’s plenty of spare locker space:
img9833 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9839 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9846 by HughieDW, on Flickr
What’s the time? It’s happy o’clock:
img9847 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back downstairs…and this is the biggie – a wonderful bit of art by Phlegm:
img9860 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9863 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Obligatory dead pigeon shot:
img9864 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9868 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Didn’t make the roof:
img9872 by HughieDW, on Flickr
That’s all folks:
img9871 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Im1945Benn-Ridgeway2 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe history of Sheffield’s former William Ridgway Tools factory (also known as Parkway Works) is a complicated one. It used to manufacture augers, bits, wood-boring and motorising tools. It was originally founded in 1878 and soon became a private company in 1909. The current building was constructed some time in the 1930s. William Ridgway Tools merged with Record Tools in 1972 to form Record Ridgway Tools Ltd. Record were a fellow Sheffield company with a reputation for producing quality clamps, wrenches, vices and cutters. They were set up by Charles J Hampton with the help of his two sons in the early 1900s having fallen out with his brother Joseph in 1898.
The enlarged company now consisted of 14 UK Companies with 5 overseas companies. A second merger with Marples who Ridgway had earlier purchased an equal 50% in in 1962 along with Record ensued. Marples, a woodwork tools company, resulted in the company changing its name to Record Marples Tools. Record Marples was itself taken over by the Swedish hardware manufacturer AB Bahco in 1982. A management three years later in 1985 returned the company to British ownership. However, the company struggled financially and went into administration in 1998. It was then acquired by US-based Irwin Tools in 1998 but was closed down soon after as the American owners moved production to China.
OK...here are the pictures!
Ridgway tools here we go:
img9870 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn the way in:
img9810 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9811 by HughieDW, on Flickr…with nature knocking at the door:
img9869 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome lovely Coloquix work here:
img9815 by HughieDW, on FlickrThen on to the first large downstairs place:
img9816 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9825 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9827 by HughieDW, on FlickrNot too sure of the artist’s name here:
img9818 by HughieDW, on Flickr…or this one:
img9835 by HughieDW, on FlickrThink this one is by Color(?):
img9820 by HughieDW, on FlickrApart from the graff, the side-buildings are trashed and empty:
img9832 by HughieDW, on Flickr…except for the old spade:
img9834 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut our friend Coloquix has been very busy:
img9821 by HughieDW, on FlickrSomeone forgot to fill up the hand wash:
img9823 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and the basin, well…don’t ask:
img9838 by HughieDW, on FlickrA second trashed and bare downstairs room:
img9837 by HughieDW, on FlickrLet’s go up-stairs:
img9841 by HughieDW, on FlickrIt’s quite airy:
img9842 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd again quite trashed:
img9849 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd there’s yet more graff:
img9854 by HughieDW, on FlickrBut there’s plenty of spare locker space:
img9833 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9839 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9846 by HughieDW, on FlickrWhat’s the time? It’s happy o’clock:
img9847 by HughieDW, on FlickrBack downstairs…and this is the biggie – a wonderful bit of art by Phlegm:
img9860 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9863 by HughieDW, on FlickrObligatory dead pigeon shot:
img9864 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9868 by HughieDW, on FlickrDidn’t make the roof:
img9872 by HughieDW, on FlickrThat’s all folks:
img9871 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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