February 2025
While visiting the North East with @Mr Budge, we reached the depot as daylight was starting to fad. After some careful manoeuvring, we entered the depot unnoticed by the volunteers working nearby. The large space contains several railway vehicles spread across two tracks. It seems the building is being used for dry storage by the heritage railway next door.
Charles Attwood founded an iron works in Wolsingham and patented a new method of steelmaking. The works were a major employer in Wolsingham from 1864, producing steel from Weardale iron ore. When Charles Attwood died, his nephew took over the company and traded as John Rogerson & Co until 1930. Steel castings were produced for use in both shipbuilding and munitions. The firm made a major contribution to the war effort in both World Wars. Electric arc furnaces were installed around 1950, but trade declined, and the works closed in 1984. However, manufacturing did continue for a time on a smaller scale run by a workers' cooperative.
The depot was constructed as part of the steelworks, possibly as a stabling point for trains removing products from the works. The ironworks closed in 2008 with most of the site demolished. Most of the iron works site is currently being redeveloped into a new housing estate. With the southern end of the site which is home to this depot building now forming part of the Weardale Heritage Railway, the visitor attraction began operating in July 2004 and a new purpose-built depot building was constructed alongside this one to service the railway. The building was granted Grade II listed status by Historic England in 1987, however this doesn't appear to have done much good with the building now falling into a state of disrepair.
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Fujifilm X-T2, 10-24mm f4 R OIS WR
