Portobello Foundry, Monkwearmouth
Black & Co
1881 'The workmen of Portobello Foundry, through the kindness of their master, Mr James Black, had their annual excursion to Edinburgh on Monday and Tuesday, the 1st and 2nd of August.'[1]
1882 Death of Thomas Meek, Manager of the foundry.[2]
1882 Fire at the foundry [3]
1886 'Large Bed Plate. — A bed plate of exceptionally large dimensions, which was cast about a fortnight since at the Portobello Foundry, was conveyed on Saturday from that establishment to Mr J. Dickinson's works, Palmers-hill. lt weighed 23 tons, and a team of 25 horses was required to draw the rolley on which it was placed for removal. The bed plate is for the engines of the large vessel now building at Messrs Boolds and Sharers' yard, Pallion. [4]
1887 'EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT AT SUNDERLAND. This morning, while a large engine bed plate and condensers was being conveyed on one of Messrs Prior's rolleys, drawn by two horses from Messrs Black's Portobello Foundry, Monkwearmouth, to Carr and Co.'s Engine Works, Commissioners Quay, Sunderland, in turning the corner of Bodlewell Lane into the Low Street, the waggon caught the kerbstone and turned completely over burying one ef the horses. The bed plate knocked down a large sign at Messrs Fenwick's brewery, a lot of tiles from a neighbouring shop, and then embedded itself in the brewery wall. The horse, when got out, was found to be seriously injured, and was carried away on planks. Fortunately the driver of waggon jumped off in time, and received no injury.'[5]