This is a view of the Sawmills at Hale and Co. in about 1918, wooden boxes were nailed up by boys for packing tinplate, and a portable steam engine drove the saw. The plant was accommodated in buildings originally houses, then offices, and afterwards stables for the New Bridge Pits, the capped shafts of which are in Hale's yard.
John Hale is second from left, Leslie Hale third from left. The Blacksmiths was set up in about 1830 and from this enterprise the Sawmills developed as an off shoot started by John's son Leslie in about 1913, earlier in 1912 he had been working at the sawmills at the high street Cinderford, where the car park is now. Leslie left for America in 1915 and younger brother Fred took over the business. Fred later opened up a shop on Dunk's Corner selling carbide lamps, fuel and bikes.
This is a view of the Sawmills at Hale and Co. in about 1918, wooden boxes were nailed up by boys for packing tinplate, and a portable steam engine drove the saw. The plant was accommodated in buildings originally houses, then offices, and afterwards stables for the New Bridge Pits, the capped shafts of which are in Hale's yard.
John Hale is second from left, Leslie Hale third from left. The Blacksmiths was set up in about 1830 and from this enterprise the Sawmills developed as an off shoot started by John's son Leslie in about 1913, earlier in 1912 he had been working at the sawmills at the high street Cinderford, where the car park is now. Leslie left for America in 1915 and younger brother Fred took over the business. Fred later opened up a shop on Dunk's Corner selling carbide lamps, fuel and bikes.
(Photo supplied by Sam Hale)