Blast
Furnacemen//

Blast furnacemen always christen their furnace with a woman’s name, this furnace was called Elizabeth after the new monarch in 1953. The work was hot, dirty, dusty, dangerous, and highly skilled. The work encouraged an atmosphere of interdependence, respect, affection and loyalty.

Blast furnacemen wait as furnace is tapped, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnace crew, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnace foreman, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnace worker, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnaceman's boots, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnaceman's safety clothing British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnacemen British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Channeling the melt British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Channeling the melt at the blast furnace, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Colleagues at the blastfurnace,British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Young blastfurnaceman, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnaceman's back, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Blast furnacemen's clogs, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Hopper driver, blast furnace, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Stepping over the melt, blastfurnace, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Tea making blast furnace, British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Labourer at the blast furnace British Steel, Bilston (1976)

Banter in blast furnace cabin British Steel Bilston (1976)

behind safety glass,blastfurnace British Steel Bilston (1976)

blast furnace foremen British Steel Bilston (1976)

Blast furnaceman British Steel Bilston (1976)

Blast furnaceman British Steel Bilston (1976)

Friends in the hopper car , blast furnace Bilston British Steel (1976)

Tea break in blast furnace cabin British Steel Bilston (1976)