Afterlives read the comments
we've received and send us your views.

Our last casting:17th march 2005.L850 cylinder head.

The 3 Amigos

News

Education Pack-Now Available. November 2005.

Demolition of Foundry 1 and 2. September 2005
Demolition has increased at the foundry over the last few weeks. Philip Herron has sent us a recent photograph (left) of the Foundry 1 and 2 area.There are only five people left on site now.Hopefully they will send us a few more pics.

Photos: We have recieved a shed load of photos from the Parr Bros and these will be going up very soon.

Education Pack: At long last the education pack for schools is well under way and will be ready by the end of September.

Submissions: Keep sending us your stuff and we will keep putting it up.

Last Days
Most of the volunteers who helped with low volume
production since last November, left last
Thursday. This was quite "heart rendering" for me
(especially in the Mulberry after work!) as, in addition, the
demolition contractors have now started on the first phase of
the clearance of the site.
A further 6 employees will leave by mid April, leaving
just 6 who will deal with the final stages of the closure
process and disposal of the site.
Kind regards
Philip
PS I heard on Radio Leeds earlier this week that our
site may be developed as an arena for major rock
concerts etc!

Comment
The project / book has reached a global audience from Leeds to Texas from Oslo to London. Copies have been deposited in libraries, schools, museums and universities. We have received loads comments from all over - if you would like to add your comment about the project, the exhibition, the book or the website please click here.

Final Closure
The foundry will finally cease all production on the 31 March and the last thirty foundry men and staff will leave. There will be a skeleton staff of five left to deal outstanding matters.

Exhibition Update
The exhibition will be opening at the Round Foundry Media Centre, Foundry Street, Leeds on the 17 March until 30 April 2005. Open Mondays to Fridays only, 9am to 5pm. more

Preview
There will be a preview and a screening of the DVD on the evening of Thursday 17 March 6.30pm onwards. Invites will be sent out shortly. Anyone wishing to attend please contact Heads Together.

Book
The book Meltdown is now available from:
Heads Together Productions, The Media Centre, 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RL

Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley Mills, Canal Road, Leeds, LS12 2UF
T: 0113 263 7861
E: armleymills.indmuseum@virgin.net
www.leeds.gov.uk/armleymills

Waterstones, Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 6HX
T: 0113 242 0839

From the 9 March:
The Round Foundry Media Centre, Foundry Street, Leeds, LS11 5QP
T: 870 420 2300
E: info@roundfoundry.net
www.roundfoundry.net

Industrial Archaeology Review
Dr. Gary Firth who researched and wrote the historical section of the book, is currently working on an academic paper "The decline of Iron-founding in Leeds in the late 20th Century". It has been accepted by the quarterly published Industrial Archaeology Review, we hope to be able to add his article to the website sometime later this year.

Schools
An education pack for schools is being developed as a downloadable pdf file.

A Message
Dr Ralph-Dieter Schrey was the Managing Director - Commercial. He was at was at VAW motorcast Limited from July 1999 to December 2000. Ralph-Dieter Schrey had been with VAW, Bonn for many years prior to being appointed MD at Motorcast. He left to return to Germany.

"Thanks a lot for the copy of Meltdown. It was very interesting to see and read the comments of all colleagues. After half an hour I was back in my mind in that nice foundry and all that attached me personally very much. It is such a pity that after such a long time of production the foundry business has reached its end. For me it was a great honour to be part of that history, even if that part was very small. For me that was the best part of my business life so far.

I wish you all the very best for your personal futures. Kindest regards,
Ralph-Dieter Schrey"

more

Poem Published
The poem Lights Out by Robert Parr has been published in the latest edition of Hi-Hydro Inside the company's in house magazine. A pdf of the article will be added to poets corner asap. more poems

Contacts
Contact has been made with Berndt Horstkamp WYF first German MD and we are hoping he will be sending us some memories / anecdotes / comments etc. Visit our Afterlives section to read other feedback we've had.

Submissions
We would like to hear from anyone who has a story, anecdote, memory, old photos of West Yorkshire Foundries. Please contact Heads Together productions.