Bleakhills Foundry
in Mansfield, Notts
Shown on the 1886 (1877-8 survey) O.S. map, to the west of Mansfield, on Sheepbridge Lane, 300 yds south of Drury's Dam.
1866 'MANSFIELD PETTY SESSIONS. Thursday, April 19th.— (Before the Rev. J. L. Prior and Captain Need.) Stealing from the Person. — James Chamberlain, moulder, aged 17, and Andrew Parks, aged 17, moulder, both of Mansfield, were charged with stealing, on the night of the 17th instant from the person of John Mee, one silver watch, silver chain, gold chain, a knife, and a pocket handkerchief, his property. After a long hearing, both prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge. For the prisoner Parks, Mr. Kirkland, ironfounder, stated that he had worked for him at the Bleakhills Foundry for about three or four years, and had been a most honest and industrious lad — in fact there was not a lad about the place like him, and he was greatly surprised when he heard about this affair. His opinion was that Parks had been made the dupe of another. Mr. Thomas Dickons, grazier, stated that Parks had been in his service for three years, and gave him an excellent character for honesty and industry. He left him to go to Mr. Kirklands. After Captain Need had given Parks some wholesome advice as to his future conduct and especially to avoid liquor shops, Chamberlain was sentenced to two months' hard labour, and Parks to one month's hard labour.'[1]
1866 Partnership dissolved between Thomas Kirkland, William Hardwick, and George Hardwick, trading as the Bleakhills Foundry Co., so far as relates to Thomas Kirkland.[2]
At one time Edgar Pickard, later co-founder of Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Co was 'ironmaster and manager' of Bleakhills Foundry[3]