Heritage Tour of Stephenson Works
– Michael Taylor, The Robert Stephenson Trust.
FREE, Saturday 26th October 2013
– Meet at Sussex Street entrance to Stephenson Works at 12pm
In 1823 George Stephenson along with four other people - his son Robert, the
Quaker businessman Edward Pease, Pease’s cousin Thomas Richardson and
Michael Longridge who managed Bedlington Iron Works - opened the world’s
first purpose built locomotive factory at South Street on Forth Banks, Newcastle
upon Tyne. Locomotives built at these works were exported to developing railways
all over the world and were often the first locomotives to be seen and used in
those countries. At Robert’s death in 1859 the firm was the largest employer on
Tyneside and by the early 1890s the works had expanded to occupy all available
land on Forth Banks. The old works finally closed in 1904 and the site was taken
over by automotive manufacturers George and Jobling who remained active in the
building until the early 1970s, producing bicycles, automobiles and airplanes. After
a period of dereliction the site was restored in the last years of the 20th century.
Following this restoration, when the Robert Stephenson Trust used the building as its
office, volunteers (including Michael Taylor) presented public tours illustrating the
building’s history.
Michael Taylor is a Trustee, Exhibitions Curator, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster of the Robert
Stephenson Trust. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer, Past Chairman of the North Eastern branch and
Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and is North East Representative for
the Panel for Historical Engineering Works, Chairman North East Heritage Panel, and Chairman ICE NE
Senior’s Group. Michael was chairman of the Millennium Ponteland Pele Tower Restoration Group, Vice
Chairman, Magazine Editor and webmaster of Ponteland Local History Society. A lifelong member of
the Scout Association he was awarded a MBE for services to young people in 2006.
This event is made possible by the kind support of the Robert Stephenson Trust.
– Michael Taylor, The Robert Stephenson Trust.
FREE, Saturday 26th October 2013
– Meet at Sussex Street entrance to Stephenson Works at 12pm
In 1823 George Stephenson along with four other people - his son Robert, the
Quaker businessman Edward Pease, Pease’s cousin Thomas Richardson and
Michael Longridge who managed Bedlington Iron Works - opened the world’s
first purpose built locomotive factory at South Street on Forth Banks, Newcastle
upon Tyne. Locomotives built at these works were exported to developing railways
all over the world and were often the first locomotives to be seen and used in
those countries. At Robert’s death in 1859 the firm was the largest employer on
Tyneside and by the early 1890s the works had expanded to occupy all available
land on Forth Banks. The old works finally closed in 1904 and the site was taken
over by automotive manufacturers George and Jobling who remained active in the
building until the early 1970s, producing bicycles, automobiles and airplanes. After
a period of dereliction the site was restored in the last years of the 20th century.
Following this restoration, when the Robert Stephenson Trust used the building as its
office, volunteers (including Michael Taylor) presented public tours illustrating the
building’s history.
Michael Taylor is a Trustee, Exhibitions Curator, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster of the Robert
Stephenson Trust. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer, Past Chairman of the North Eastern branch and
Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and is North East Representative for
the Panel for Historical Engineering Works, Chairman North East Heritage Panel, and Chairman ICE NE
Senior’s Group. Michael was chairman of the Millennium Ponteland Pele Tower Restoration Group, Vice
Chairman, Magazine Editor and webmaster of Ponteland Local History Society. A lifelong member of
the Scout Association he was awarded a MBE for services to young people in 2006.
This event is made possible by the kind support of the Robert Stephenson Trust.
