Yesterday to the V&A for British Design 1948-2012. A terrific show that highlights British creativity. Good to see the Mini, Concorde, the HST and all the expected treats but it’s the finds that make these exhibitions. Mine was the Falkirk Wheel, a wondrous piece of engineering that connects two canals, one 24 metres above the other. Yes, I should have known about it before because it’s been open for 10 years but we all have our blind spots. The Wheel is one of those inspired engineering solutions, beautiful, playful and practical.
But there is a twist. I was thrilled to see that the builders were the Butterley Company of Derbyshire. Butterley build the great roof at St Pancras station, recently restored to great acclaim. It was heartening to see that a company founded in 1790 and so much a part of our industrial heritage was still delivering state-of-the art engineering in the 21 century.
Then I discovered that Butterley went bankrupt in 2009, a victim of the bankers’ folly. This is a cause for despair. Could not an important company like this have been nursed through the recession? Once gone, this sort of expertise will never return. Judging by our high streets, the nation’s response to tragedies like this seems to be: “Let them open nail parlours”.
But there is a twist. I was thrilled to see that the builders were the Butterley Company of Derbyshire. Butterley build the great roof at St Pancras station, recently restored to great acclaim. It was heartening to see that a company founded in 1790 and so much a part of our industrial heritage was still delivering state-of-the art engineering in the 21 century.
Then I discovered that Butterley went bankrupt in 2009, a victim of the bankers’ folly. This is a cause for despair. Could not an important company like this have been nursed through the recession? Once gone, this sort of expertise will never return. Judging by our high streets, the nation’s response to tragedies like this seems to be: “Let them open nail parlours”.
RSS Feed
