When he was Mayor of Bath – and a councillor with B&NES – Bryan Chalker helped rescue one of the last remaining rail-mounted, self-propelled steam cranes to be built by one of the city’s most famous industrial concerns.
This original Stothert and Pitt crane stands now on Bath Riverside on a site where it was once built and operated but which is now being transformed into a residential site by Crest Nicholson.
The construction company also helped preserve this example of local engineering and have set it up as a tribute to what went before.
However, it’s the future now concerning Mr Chalker.
Whilst serving as a councillor he was also ‘Heritage Champion’ for B&NES – a fitting role for a man who loves industrial local history and who helps organise an annual exhibition of Bath’s industrial heritage – but now he must campaign without the former civic backing.
Bryan says he’s concerned about the crane’s future maintenance.
He can organise the manpower but who is going to pay for the upkeep.
A spokesperson for Crest Nicholson told the Virtual Museum that the Company was looking at what it could do to help.
Please read on – if you want to find out more about the crane’s rescue. It’s a piece written by Bryan who also -these days – has his own radio show on Somer Valley 97.5 FM.
Below is a poster giving details of the next Industrial Heritage Exhibition.
is a criying shame that the councile carnt put there hand in the pocket and give the 200 pounds that it need to be dune up my little 5 year old calls it mr cranky from tomass and friends . so alot of kids wold miss it why carnt the near by shops have dotions tins in them so it can have a kitty to keep it all going for years to come