taken 15 years ago, near to Rusholme, Manchester, England
The Haydock Colliery beam engine.
At the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester. Single cylinder house-built beam engine of unknown vintage but probably around 1830-40. Installed at the colliery workshops c1860. Was acquired for eventual display at the museum but when acquired there were no immediate prospects of a home for it and it was stored for many years. Although this one is not known to have worked in the textile industry, it is typical of the early textile mill beam engines.
SJ8397 : Mills across the water Building on the right is a modern pastiche. I looked at this early in 2008 and realised it for what it was quite quickly. There is an excellent complex of converted mills in this corner. Just as important as Ancoats.