Above: Destruction caused to the Marland Mill. Les Lord.
in suffered a disaster. “Friday the 30th of March was quite a memorable day at Marland Mill. In addition to being the Company year end and the day the secretary of accounts was leaving, opening up a permanent position for myself, plus the retirement of the works manager. Then at 4-30 pm, an hour before the mill closed for the weekend, there was such a bang and a thud, our first thoughts was that a boiler had exploded. Within a couple of minutes the telephone rang, it was the local press asking if I knew the telephone number of the Mars Mill, which was next door. I knew this number off by heart, so gave it to them and for the next couple of minutes thought it was something which had happened there, until our Engineer came running into the office to say the flywheel had gone through the wall of the rope-race. The wheel was about 20 ft. in diameter and carried twenty two inch diameter ropes which drove the pulleys on the five story building.” The cause was that the governor had stuck in the open position causing the engine to speed up considerably until the flywheel revolved at such a speed it “took off” and went through 202
the wall. The following day the police telephoned to investigate the loss of their huge wheel. The question for the record was, “At what time exactly did the flywheel leave the factory.” Mr Lord had a fall at home and was rushed into hospital, where he passed away a few days later, but it was when the ambulance crew were
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
about to place him in the vehicle, he commented, “Can you let Harold know.” At Christmastime we place a wreath on his grave which saves his family travelling the long distance from Yorkshire. I notice that this year it will be the centenary of his birth.
Below: Mr Lord visits town with his book
www.lancmag.com
