Bradwell Boiler – I obtained this photograph from Davy, then owner of Head Wrightson Teesdale. It is stamped on the obverse. “A 20’00” diameter x 100’0″ long heat exchanger built by Head Wrightson being launched from the Thornaby works into the River Tees before being towed down the east coast to the Black Water estuary, from where it will be transported by road to the CEGB Nuclear Power Station”. I remember the men and photographers at the bottom of the slipway getting a soaking from the wash. Head Wrightson made a big day of the launch. This is an image taken by J Boulton, Photographer of Conniscliffe Road, Darlington.
Photograph and details courtesy of Anthony Bonner.
I was at this launch and several others. My father was a welder at Head Wrightson and worked at Teesdale for over 50 Years. He often went with the Atomic Reactors to work on the installation of them at several sites around the country.
I worked as a joiner on some of these Bradwell boilers, 12 in all. It was my job with others to strap the saddles which you can see around the boiler. They were made up from probably 12″x6″ timbers strapped together with thick metal rope. The rope being threaded through 1 1/2″ holes at either end of the timbers. We also got ready the boiler on the slipway. At the other end at Bradwell after being towed there by the Tees tugs, at high tide the boiler was towed between an island and the shore. It was our job with winches to turn the tug so the end was facing inland. A diver was used to make sure it rested on bogies as the tide receded. This was in Bradwell village. It was then upto Sunters Hauliers to haul the boiler around the the Power Station by road. Then it was upto us again to take the saddles off which would be transported back to Thornaby for another launch. The saddles as well as being used for protection were also for the buoyancy of the boilers whilst being towed.
I would also like to thank Anthony Bonner for providing this photo. I also worked on Dock Gates and the Bankside Power Station which is now the Tate Modern Art Gallery. We were the Dock Gate squad I also have to say that I worked at the Bankside Power Station in 1961-62 and 50 years later my son is now working for the Tate Modern Art Gallery in the same building.