Not sure where this quite belongs, but it is really about a place as opposed to a person. People figure highly however.
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The Power House |
"Evelyn" a steam powered turbine
manufactured by W H Allen of Bedford
was situated in this building and generated electricity
for Springfield and Broom Mills until about 1960.
The building, erected in the the early 1900's was known as
"the Power House"
Steam to drive the turbine was provided by
three hand fed Lancashire Coal Fired Boilers
in an adjacent building
The turbine was named after Evelyn, the daughter of
Gerald Rayner Gaunt, known affectionately as "GRG"
who spent his life serving the Company
from 1887 until his death in 1957 aged 84.
This plaque is erected in memory of
Father and Daughter,
by his Grandson, her Son,
John C. Bostock
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Reuben & Sarah Gaunt |
IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF
REUBEN GAUNT OF "SPRINGWOOD" FARSLEY,
BORN MAY 27th 1824, DIED FEB 15th 1907
A CONSTANT WORSHIPPER IN THIS CHURCH.
A GENEROUS DONOR TO THE COST OF ITS ERECTION,
AND OF THE SCHOOLS ADJOINING.
A FAITHFUL FRIEND OF THE SICK AND NEEDY,
HELPING THEM DURING HIS LIFE,
AND PROVIDING FOR THEM BY HIS REQUESTS
TO THE BENEVOLENT FUND OF THIS CHURCH.
A SUCCESFUL MAN OF BUSINESS,
KIND AND CONSIDERATE TO HIS WORKPEOPLE,
REMEMBERING THEM ALSO BY HIS REQUESTS,
HUMBLE IN SPIRIT, SIMPLE IN MODE OF LIFE
EVER WILLING TO HELP ANY JUST CAUSE.
ALSO OF
SARAH GAUNT, HIS WIFE,
BORN DEC 1ST 1823, DIED JUNE 30TH 1904,
A DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER,
GENEROUS HELPER OF THIS CHURCH AND A
ZEALOUS WORKER FOR THE BUILDING OF THE SCHOOLS
ERECTED BY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION
This is the inscription on the bottom of the plaque:
This tablet in honour of Reuben Gaunt was removed from Farsley Baptist Church on its demolition in 1970. In 1875 he founded Reuben Gaunt & Sons which was converted into a limited company in 1896
THIS TABLET
WAS SET BY THE WORKERS OF
SPRINGFIELD AND BROOM MILLS
TO
PERCY REGINALD GAUNT
C.B.E.
BORN 1875 DIED 1926
TO RECORD THEIR APPRECIATION OF
HIS STRENUOUS LIFE AND UNGRUDGING SERVICE FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL
WHO WORKED WITH HIM
A BUSINESSMAN
BLESSED WITH THE COMMON TOUCH
A GENTLEMAN
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VIEW OF THE MILLS 2012 | | |
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THE PLAQUES ARE ON THIS WALL |
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ANOTHER VIEW |
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VERY SIMILAR VIEW |
The use of the property has changed, we visited a craftshop in the complex, more information can be found
here about renting out units. It was quite busy.