About The Challenge
People across the world are fond of the iconic red telephone boxes. Commonly the K6 type is noticed in a variety of wonderful settings.
But did you know that most of those kiosks were made in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow in Scotland? Made in the Lion Foundry. Most of their doors were later made lighter in aluminium and cast in Archibald Young's Foundry - also in Kirkintilloch. Many others were made in Carron Works,
Including the Star Foundry and Basin Foundry aka Etna Foundry, the town produced many small and large items that can be seen today. We often pass them by!
The tradition continues today in Young's Foundry, but sadly the Lion, Star and Basin foundries no longer exist, having closed in the 80's.
We can now help highlighting this amazing legacy, and enable Kirkintilloch's unique industrial heritage to be around for some more time to come.
(See Iron Founding on EDLC website.)
The foundries' impact on the world and on the people who worked in Kirkintilloch, is remarkable. Most who lived in Kirkintilloch during this era, knew someone who worked there.
My grandfather, an uncle and my next-door neighbour, all worked in the foundries. I walked past the Lion Foundry every day, going to school.
I have fond memories while growing up, of my father strangely checking the back of telephone kiosks while on-holiday, to find the Kirkintilloch nameplate clearly at the bottom. He was proud of his father, brother and of others we all knew from the industry.
However, the locations of many existing items are now currently unknown. They are a kind of lost treasure and we now require many pairs of eyes, to find them!
The challenge is designed for this purpose. Together we can provide the clearest picture yet of Kirkintilloch's amazing industrial legacy.
Contemporary tools of social media, internet mapping and digital photography help us achieve this very quickly. Since the start of the challenge in May 2014 the response has been amazing. Hundreds of people have 'joined' in. The Kirkintilloch Herald and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) have highlighted and supported it and helped with information. I thank them all for this.
The map shows an update of the challenge 'finds' around the world.
This challenge focuses on Kirky's unique and largest impact on the globe, but in doing so it acknowledges the history of the wider industry.
Open to all, you are all are invited to - take on the challenge!
Danny McFadden
But did you know that most of those kiosks were made in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow in Scotland? Made in the Lion Foundry. Most of their doors were later made lighter in aluminium and cast in Archibald Young's Foundry - also in Kirkintilloch. Many others were made in Carron Works,
Including the Star Foundry and Basin Foundry aka Etna Foundry, the town produced many small and large items that can be seen today. We often pass them by!
The tradition continues today in Young's Foundry, but sadly the Lion, Star and Basin foundries no longer exist, having closed in the 80's.
We can now help highlighting this amazing legacy, and enable Kirkintilloch's unique industrial heritage to be around for some more time to come.
(See Iron Founding on EDLC website.)
The foundries' impact on the world and on the people who worked in Kirkintilloch, is remarkable. Most who lived in Kirkintilloch during this era, knew someone who worked there.
My grandfather, an uncle and my next-door neighbour, all worked in the foundries. I walked past the Lion Foundry every day, going to school.
I have fond memories while growing up, of my father strangely checking the back of telephone kiosks while on-holiday, to find the Kirkintilloch nameplate clearly at the bottom. He was proud of his father, brother and of others we all knew from the industry.
However, the locations of many existing items are now currently unknown. They are a kind of lost treasure and we now require many pairs of eyes, to find them!
The challenge is designed for this purpose. Together we can provide the clearest picture yet of Kirkintilloch's amazing industrial legacy.
Contemporary tools of social media, internet mapping and digital photography help us achieve this very quickly. Since the start of the challenge in May 2014 the response has been amazing. Hundreds of people have 'joined' in. The Kirkintilloch Herald and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) have highlighted and supported it and helped with information. I thank them all for this.
The map shows an update of the challenge 'finds' around the world.
This challenge focuses on Kirky's unique and largest impact on the globe, but in doing so it acknowledges the history of the wider industry.
Open to all, you are all are invited to - take on the challenge!
Danny McFadden