Irkdale Ironworks
of Smedley Road, Cheetham, Manchester
The premises were occupied by P. R. and A. E. Syers until about 1878.
1887 Sale Notice: 'Irkdale Ironworks, Smedley-road, Manchester.— To Engineers, Nailmakers, Brokers, and Others.
WILLIAM MACPHERSON & SONS are in receipt of instructions to catalogue, and SELL BY AUCTION, on Thursday, the 14th day of July, 1887, commencing at 11 o'clock in tha forenoon prompt, at the above works, tho complete PLANT of NAILMAKING MACHINERY, wrought iron furnaces, vertical steam engine, steam boiler, vertical drilling machines, sliding and screw-cutting lathes, planing machine, weighing machines, shafting, mechanics' and smiths' tools, wrought and cast iron scrap, &c. Tbe plant is calculated to produce 40 tons of finished nails per week.—Catalogues are being prepared, and may be had six days prior to the sale; meanwhile, for further particulars, to the Auctioneers, 33, Market-street, Manchester.'[1]
1901 Advert: 'TINNERS.—Wanted, a MAN to tin cotton can rings.- Pemberton and Whittaker, Irkdale Ironworks, Smedley Road, Cheetham.'[2]
The 1891 O.S. map[3] shows Irkdale Ironworks as a small building, about 100 ft by 60 ft, on the western bank of the River Irk, immediately adjacent to the viaduct of the L&YR Newton Heath Loop. Access was from Smedley Road, through a gap between the viaduct and a row of terraced houses. It appears to be the building on the left of the river in this 1901 photograph. The tunnel in the photo is the culverted outfall of Moston Brook into the River Irk. The factory chimney in the background belonged to an emery works. Another view here shows the scene in 1900, during reconstruction of the Moston Brook outfall. This photo also shows the factory's short square chimney.