My letter to the Gainsborough News

James · My letter to the Gainsborough News

Dear Editor

I am writing to you to express my concern and sadness related to the recent influx of demolition work that is being carried out to our vast, proud, industrial heritage.

Gainsborough was once the “workshop of the world”, with quality products being shipped to every corner of the globe. Marshalls Sons Co. Ltd seems much forgotten within the town, and it seems that Gainsborough residents spare little or no thought for what once was.

I, myself, am 15 years of age. I’m being brought up in an age when the remnants of the grand age of the Industrial Revolution are being raised to the ground. Firstly, in my memory at least, was the turning of the Britannia Iron Works into “Marshalls Yard”. This, in my opinion, is absolutely sickening. These grand buildings stood proud for over 150 years. They were the birthplace to some of the world’s finest Traction Engines, Rollers, and other steam engines. To see these buildings torn down, and replaced by a shopping centre of all things is beyond me.

A place where people used to work extremely hard for their bread is now workplace to people who sit at a checkout till all day and twiddle their thumbs, and still earn a tidy wage package.

I was lucky enough to look around the site before it was “transformed”, and I have to say that it was one of the most beautiful pieces of industrial architecture that I have ever come across. Alas, at this time I was only a mere 13 years of age, too young to soak in all of the history.

Then there was the demolition of the Marshalls “Spring Gardens” part of the Britannia Iron Works. This site has now been flattened and will be home to over 100 new, poorly built houses I believe.

I recently read that Edlington’s Engineers Co were to be moving to the old Bus Depot, and that the current factory is to be demolished. This was bad, but when I read that it was to make way for a roundabout I was utterly appalled. How can we be so insolent as to clear away such an iconic factory for a roundabout!?!

The last straw came when I read in the Gainsborough News that the Wefco site was deemed for demolition within the next 2 years.

People are saying that “Marshall’s Yard” is great, bringing in people to Gainsborough and that the old factory is being used once more. I can’t see how this is better, because as demand grows in Gainsborough, we have to demolish more and more of our old buildings to cater for it!

I can see, in a few years time, people saying “It’s such a shame that there is nothing left of Gainsborough’s heritage”. Nothing is being done to preserve it, no efforts at all, and unless we act fast, it will be gone for good.

I think the council should do more to preserve our past, instead of being so stupid as to ignore it and rid us of it.

In my eyes, the modern world is a shambles, the society in which we now live is nothing but a shadow of its former self, and if we carry on in the same way, we are deemed to forget the hard and grand lives our forefathers led.

Thanks
James Chantry

steamyjim

GOOD ON YA JAMES!

James

Thanks lad

Cranko

Very well written letter James this should stir some feeling i feel

Rob

hows about a petition lad? ill certainly put my name on it.
Rob

James

Thanks guys

Petition? Not sure anyone will listen

Lewis

Nice one mate

have you sent that in ?

James

I'll drop it through the door tomorrow

The place is only a stone's throw away from Marshalls (well what USED to be Marshalls, there's not a brick standing now, pics tomorrow).

James

I took this pic from on top of the factory wall, and the newspaper place is the place at the bottom left of the picture, where it says "Lincolnshire"

Graham-Jilly

goodonyamate well done and nicely put.
but I dont think it will change things tho

James

Naa Idon't think so either, but it makes me feel better and they will know that not everyone is oblivious to what these legal crimes they are commiting!

Wallace

Great letter James, and good luck mate

James

Thanks mate

MTA

Why can't you always talk like that

I can see loads of angry people going to your house now James, best get towd man outside your front door with his gun and a vicious dog

James

LMAO

I'll leave me name out the paper

Why can't I always write like that?

Cos if one did, one's comrades would think one were a posh bugger

bessytractor

thats an excellent letter James, well worded and all grammatically correct, they'd be stupid not to publish it (I certainly would not hesitate!)

James

Thanks mate!

You might not notice from me normal posts and the way I talk, but english is one of me best subjects

Aiming for A/A* in English GCSE and another A/A* in English lit

bessytractor

James

Well done!!

My English Lit teahcer really hates me, cos I always talk about farming in lessons to this other farmer lad

bessytractor

James

I sit there like "O aye lad, my Fordson wipes the floor with your Massey"