The neighbourhood
Coalwick Quay
Ninety feet of stone quay on the east bank of the Brant, five buildings that have all outlived their first trades.
The granary
Now flats, still called the granary. Its hoist gear was the yard’s first industrial customer in 1881.
The tearoom
Once the tide waiter’s office. Best seed cake on the river, heated trough for cold hands.
The ropewalk
Us. Tannery shed, two brick ends, 211 metres, one wireless.
The crane
Proof crane of 1891, hand-cracked, listed with the walk. Turns once for every rope it passes.
The boat shed
Fergus & Sons, shipwrights. They buy more hand-line than anyone and argue about lay with Bert, pleasantly, most Fridays.
The Brant
Not deep, not fast, and frozen once in living memory. It is why the quay exists and why rope does.