INSIDE THE WHITE SPOT PIPE FACTORY, WALTHAMSTOW

Last week Gort Scott sent me some images of the White Spot pipe factory. The architecture firm has recently been working on a project on Blackhorse Lane, where White Spot has premises.




All photos by Gort Scott for Design for London

With many thanks to Mark Brearley of Design for London for facilitating this.

WEEKLY DIGEST

A handful of news items on UK making from last week:

The government has launched the Make it in Great Britain campaign (Make it British)

On the same story, Vince Cable believes 'the UK still has outstanding manufacturing companies, large and small' (Public Service)

Lara Platman's photos of the making of Harris Tweed in the Outer Hebrides (BBC)

Photo by Lara Platman

DISTILLERY VISIT NO.2 : LAPHROAIG, ISLAY

The photos from the visit to Laphroaig whisky distillery are now up on the M&I Facebook page. Here is a selection. As explained previously, the distilleries of Islay offer group tours, therefore it was unlike most M&I visits and is without the usual write up.




A great deal of information on Laphroaig is available on the company's website.

WEEKLY DIGEST

Brewdog unveils plans for new £7m brewery in Aberdeenshire (The Grocer)

Listed industrial buildings 'more at risk' than other types of heritage (BBC)

The government's See Inside Manufacturing program sees children in Sunderland visiting Nissan and students in Woking visiting the McLaren factory (BIS)

Picture of Crossness Pumping Station in Bexley from the BBC

FIELD TRIP NO. 1: TRICKER'S, NORTHAMPTON

What with all of the shoe factory posts I have been seeing of late I thought it might be nice to dig this early M&I field trip post out of the archive.

Walking through Northampton town centre shortly after 9am on a Wednesday morning it seemed bereft of life. The high street had three pound/99p shops within close proximity of each other and a gentleman's club offering 'topless football.'

After navigating the unfriendly road network I eventually arrived at the address that was scrawled in my diary: 56-60 St. Michael's Road. Across the road is an old, disused shoe factory - it is in a sorry state. The home of Tricker's however, audibly buzzes with life as you cross the street.

Stepping into the modest reception area I thought I would be asked to head to another premises in order to get to the factory store. Instead, the friendly receptionist led me across the factory floor to the shop, situated at the rear of the building. As we walked, my mind tried to absorb everything around me - neatly stacked yellow lasts, a young cobbler applying colour to a leather sole, the noise of different processes, a radio playing The Smiths 'How Soon is Now?' at a level suitable only to that of a working factory.

Deposited in the box-like shop I was soon joined by David, a gregarious salesman who oozed enthusiasm for the quality of the product. We had a wide ranging conversation that took in the huge demand for the product at present and problems that stem from this (Robbie Williams was spotted wearing a pair of Tricker's recently.) We also discussed traditional shoemaking methods as well as ridiculous health and safety laws and old buildings.

After trying on a pair of Ripon boots and having problems with the leather sole, David unearthed a pair of Wetherbys, complete with commando soles, perfect. I paid up, and with a firm handshake David showed me the way out, 'through the car park, turn right.' It turns out my foray on the factory floor was a bonus.

Strolling back to the station, the town had come alive, the sun bouncing off of the impressive Guildhall and All Saints Church. I stopped to have a coffee in an Italian cafe where one older gentleman appeared to know everyone who came through the door. I am looking forward to returning to Northampton.

KEMBLE & CO : THE LAST UK PIANO MAKER

The second video from Carwell Casswell is of Kemble & Co, the last UK piano manufacturer, who closed in 2009. Another beautifully shot and edited film, albeit on the sad demise of a company founded in 1911.

HALSTOCK CABINET MAKERS : A VIDEO BY CARWELL CASSWELL

I received an email recently from Ross Carwell Casswell who kindly shared a couple of videos on two UK companies - one still very much in business, one now sadly closed. The first is the former; Halstock, a cabinet makers near Yeovil.

Thanks Ross.

WEEKLY DIGEST

Manufacturing in the news this week:

What the economists have to say on the current state of UK manufacturing (Guardian)

The passion for UK manufacturing (BIS)

Photo by David Jones

NEW BALANCE : MADE IN ENGLAND

Nice video short on the New Balance factory in Flimby, Cumbria.


Source: Sneakersnstuff
Thanks to: Heritage Crafts Association for sharing it

WEEKLY DIGEST

The MD of Morgan explains why the car maker will never manufacture abroad (Real Business)

Hiut Denim: Made in Cardigan, Wales (Stylesight)

UK manufacturing activity picks up (FT)

Among the excellent soundslides on Nick Hand's Slowcoast project is one with Paul Smith (Slowcoast)

Photo of Morgan factory from Dark Roasted Blend

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GRENSON & BARBOUR

"There are many collaborations around at the moment and some of them don't make a lot of sense. But I think that with Grenson and Barbour, it's so rare that you get two wonderful companies that started around the same sort of time, producing a different product but selling to the same kind of customer and with the same integrity and quality."

Tim Little, owner of Grenson

WEEKLY DIGEST

Support the parliamentary rally to save Bombardier jobs (Right to Work)

There is to be research conducted into the occupations, skills and value of the heritage crafts sector (Traditional Crafts)

'Culturally the UK is not set up' for a return to manufacturing (Telegraph)

Gloverall, 'an increasingly rare example of British manufacturing at its best', is 60 this year (Telegraph)

The British Ceramics Biennial has opened in Stoke

Image of Churchill in Gloverall coat from The Telegraph