Sandygate Weaving Shed

in Burnley

1910 'Mill Engine Wrecked at Burnley.
NARROW ESCAPE OF ENGINEER.
Burnley mills closed on Saturday noon for what is known as the September holiday, but in one instance it was a most eventful closure. Work was proceeding as usual after the breakfast half-hour at the Sandygate Weaving Shed, run by Messrs. Blakey and Bibby, Ltd., when there was an awful crash, followed by severe vibration of the building and the abrupt stoppage of the machinery. The 200 operatives were greatly alarmed, and their fears were not allayed till it became known that no one was injured.
The disaster was confined to the engine-house, which presented a remarkable scene of destruction. The fine 240 h.p. beam engine, which had been running smoothly a minute before the engineer, Mr. Amos Eastwood, left, was a complete wreck when he returned. Hearing the crash Mr. Eastwood had with commendable promptitude rushed into the boiler-house and shut off the steam. Afterwards he proceeded to the engine room, and there saw the basement covered with tons of broken stonework and iron — the remains of the engine. It is supposed that the crank, which had a 5ft. 6in, stroke, was the first to give way, and the beam, which weighed over three tons, smashed in two. The engine was completely wrecked. It was fortunate that the engineer was out of the place, or he might have been killed by falling material, or scalded severely by escaping steam. The damage amounts to several hundred pounds, and the operatives will be idle, it is stated, for about two months.'

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