ATV Today: 11.07.1977: Bilston Blast Furnace

Summary

John Swallow interviews workers at the last remaining working blast furnace in the Black Country.

Year:

1977

Duration:

0:06:16

Film type:

Colour / Sound

Company:

ATV

Master format:

16mm

Description

We see view of the exterior and interior of the last working blast furnace in the Black Country which is at Bilston Steel Works. We see the molten metal being tapped and poured intro railway wagons. The plant, nicknamed Elisabeth, is operated by British Steel. John Swallow interviews workers about their job, the conditions and the practice of handing out beer tokens to men in the plant. The report also has a voice over from ATV continuity announcer Peter Davies.


Credits

No credits specified


Notes

A note in the original can says that this item was partially re-edited from trims in 1991. Some shots had probably been taken out for reuse in other news items. The blast furnace at Bilston Steel Works was opened in 1954 and named Elisabeth after the daughter of the chairman of Stewarts and Lloyds (the plant's owners prior to nationalisation). Bilston Steel Works closed in 1979 and Elisabeth was demolished in 1980.