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Through the railings

By mrswoolybill
Our town boasts the largest toilet roll manufacturer in Europe - now there's a claim to fame. It's a vast state-of-the-art facility, stretching nearly a mile in length.
Paper milling uses a lot of water, and at the end of the process what hasn't steamed off is returned to the River Tyne via this incongruously un-state-of-the-art pumping station. It was built around 1941, for ICI, who used the site for the manufacture of nitrate fertiliser until 1963 - the pipe runs under the vast chalk spoil heaps that accumulated from the process and are now a nature reserve because of their unusual flora and fauna.
The place looks semi-derelict, but is obviously still up to the job.
Thanks for looking,
Moira

Tags: Photo journalism Black and white Industrial landscape Landscape and travel

Readers' Choice Awards are given to photos that get over 30 votes

Uploaded:
3 Feb 2021 7:37AM
Camera:
Nikon D7500
Lens:
16.0-80.0 mm f/2.8-4.0
Shutter Speed:
1/60s
Aperture:
f/9.0
ISO:
320
Focal Length:
38.0 mm
More EXIF

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Comments


ZenTony Plus
6 12 2 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 7:43AM
I love that Moira. It's a huge toilet roll though !!
Tony
Chrism8 15 1.0k 31 England
3 Feb 2021 7:56AM
Excellent mono, well shot
woolybill1 Plus
15 38 78 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 8:05AM

Quote:I love that Moira. It's a huge toilet roll though !!
Tony

For mere mortals - yes. But the rolls inside the factory from which the paper emanates are at least ten times the size: the mothers of all toilet rolls!
Bill
lifesnapper Plus
16 8 3 England
3 Feb 2021 8:12AM
Made the very best of this excellent subject matter, Moira.

JohnSmile
dales Plus
6 13 Australia
3 Feb 2021 8:14AM
Quite a claim to fame to have Moira !! This is not your bog standard image here SmileSmile
Ian
dudler Plus
18 1.9k 1928 England
3 Feb 2021 8:19AM
The way we shape our environment - sometimes for ill, but occasionally for good...
saltireblue Plus
12 13.0k 82 Norway
3 Feb 2021 8:32AM

Quote:...looks semi-derelict, but is obviously still up to the job.

You could be describing me...
No Andrex puppies roaming the grounds as guard-dogs?
Last modified by saltireblue on 3 Feb 2021 8:33AM
franken Plus
19 5.4k 4 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 8:49AM
Impressive in mono, Moira.
whatriveristhis Plus
9 659 192 England
3 Feb 2021 8:53AM
I remember, not quite fondly, when there was only the shiny stuff... or pages from the Sunday Post, on a string.
mrswoolybill Plus
15 3.2k 2519 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 8:55AM
My grandmother was a great devotee of the shiny stuff. Izal...
Kids today don't know what they are missing.
Thanks guys and good morning.

EDIT - Heaven help us, it's still out there!
Last modified by mrswoolybill on 3 Feb 2021 8:58AM
DicksPics Plus
10 13
3 Feb 2021 8:55AM
I love the warning sign by the door, Moira!

Richard Smile
ColleenA Plus
9 502 8 Australia
3 Feb 2021 9:00AM
Great photo...interesting info
AlfieK Plus
5 1 1 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 9:15AM
An interesting slice of history. So that’s where all the toilet rolls were during the first lockdown! Superbly captured in mono.
Alfie
cats_123 Plus
18 5.1k 30 Northern Ireland
3 Feb 2021 9:16AM
I'm still scarred by Izal....can I get some compensation 😁😁
leo_nid 5 12
3 Feb 2021 9:26AM
nice shot and story
and putting toilet roll theme into a historical context
ZenTony Plus
6 12 2 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 9:37AM

Quote:My grandmother was a great devotee of the shiny stuff. Izal...
Kids today don't know what they are missing.
Thanks guys and good morning.

EDIT - Heaven help us, it's still out there!


OMG Izal. I remember that stuff. Just
kaybee 18 8.2k 27 Scotland
3 Feb 2021 9:48AM
It can't be easy getting a toilet roll holder that takes a roll nearly a mile long.
Come to that - you would need a huge bathroom to put it in.
mac Plus
20 13 Scotland
3 Feb 2021 10:38AM
I used to see a lot of these wooden drums, when I worked with an Electricity Board, as they contained electric cables, which were used for the distribution of electricity. From memory, they cost you £100 if not returned. From the large anti-climbing guards on the fence, it looks well protected!
Ian
mrswoolybill Plus
15 3.2k 2519 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 11:08AM
Leo, that's a fabulous link - as always.
Thanks everyone, and I'm sorry if I have brought back some sore memories.
Mollycat Plus
8 21 2 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 11:28AM
Not your bog standard building then Moira.
Alfie_P 14 927 2 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 12:04PM
A fine b&w image Moira ⭐

😊
gpimages Plus
11 79 3 England
3 Feb 2021 12:15PM
Gritty reality - nice work Moira.
gp Wink
TrevBatWCC Plus
13 13 19 England
3 Feb 2021 12:46PM
Blimey, Moira, toilet roll on those would last a lifetime! 😁👍
Trev 😀
Joline Plus
15 38 59 United States
3 Feb 2021 1:59PM
The way people were hoarding it when we first went into shut down, it could have been made of solid gold! I ever thought I would see a panic over toilet paper!
Chinga Plus
11 61 3 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 2:09PM
Some interesting items and I like the danger sign...
All very well seen... Isabel GrinGrin
Daisymaye Plus
13 23 23 Canada
3 Feb 2021 2:24PM
Well, it is very useful and what would we do without it? Us spoiled fortunate people. I like the tones and textures in this very much.
MAK2 Plus
3 34
3 Feb 2021 3:13PM
love the tones and texture Moira great mono SmileSmileSmile
Marie
Fefe Plus
10 73 41 United Kingdom
3 Feb 2021 4:13PM
That shiny stuff Izal was made in Sheffield, My sister worked there for a while. They did a good range in disinfectant too....similar to what is now called 'Jeyes Fluid' smells divine ....a bit like tarmac!

Anyroad....if that is a toilet roll...I see its empty! Somewhere there must be a serious blockage TongueTongueTongueTongue
taggart Plus
17 47 14 United States
3 Feb 2021 6:09PM
Power company uses those rolls for wires--- Pity the toilet the meets up with a wad of wire???

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