Over the years Sledgehammer Engineering Press has published books by Alan McEwen which include 'Chronicles of a Lancastrian Boilermaker,' 'Fred Dibnah's Chimney Drops,' 'Historic Steam Boiler Explosions,' 'Rivet Lad - Lusty Tales...', and 'Rivet Lad - More Battles...'. His late wife Christine McEwen (1947 - 2020), also a writer, contributed the book 'Jaggerman's Bridges on Packhorse Trails'.
 
The first half of Alan McEwen's latest book, ‘The Dandelion Salvager’, covers his work, life and adventures, including self-building the ‘World from Rough Stones’ house and reclamation yard over the past decade or two, aided by Christine. He also includes stories about his home village of Cowling and the surrounding region which straddles three counties, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Lancashire, in the high Pennines. The scope of the large format, copiously illustrated book, is extremely wide because McEwen, now an old man with a well-lived life, has many tales to tell. In this book he manages to juxtapose pages on local history, several pages about Celtic and later carved stone heads, swiftly followed by salvage trips and holidays, camera always in hand. Random industrial archaeological remains pop up such as cranes, stone breakers and a stone knapper made by W H Baxter Ltd of Leeds in 1878 on which was cast in raised letters:
Lubricate this breaker well
Tightened bolts prevent all rapping
And be sure all parts are clean
That’s the way to keep it knapping
The repeal of the Turnpike Acts and the Poor Law resulted in the hitherto parish responsibility for maintaining main roads and milestones which involved frequently locking them overnight in a stone booth and not letting them out until they had turned a rock or two into pebbles at which point the parish would feed them and send them on their way. Hand-breaking of stones, which started around 1555, was passed to local authorities by 1878 which probably spawned the development of machine-breaking of large stones into pebbles.
 
McEwen describes an excursion to see the areas where millstones and grindstones were made from the region’s millstone grit, and its gritstone troughs. Encountering knowledgeable locals was par for the course. Many of the characters met talk in the vernacular: - ‘alwreet … I cannot remember wheer cos thowd grey matter ain’t too bonny’. Standing stones and boundary markers are not forgotten, some exceedingly large ones were manhandled by McEwen using simple machinery and native intelligence.
 
The second half contains mini-biographies of trade colleagues, their skills and businesses of which some are mentioned below.
 
In the village of Higher Walton near Preston, a red-brick cotton mill and chimney catch the eye. Eddie Whiteside, known as Lancashire's Master Salvager, inhabits a spot halfway up Kittlingbourne Brow. Whiteside's life centres around recycling and repurposing materials, crafting remarkable buildings like his own home, and skill in metal sculpting. Relics from bygone eras adorn his yard.
An example of McEwen’s prose style in the book is his description of Whiteside as:
'Genial-mannered Eddie, now a spritely septuagenarian, proudly sporting a polished pate, a purple-dye-flecked goatee beard and dangling gold earrings, his muscular forearms adorned with tats, has spent his lifetime fascinated by, and immensely proud of, British mechanical and civil engineering achievements, British industrial manufactured products, and particularly in the gathering, salvaging and reuse of yesteryear's throw-out materials.'
 
Whiteside's appreciation for British engineering and salvage can be seen in his collection of Victorian machinery and textiles. He restores stained glass and has assembled a sizeable workshop for his collection of tools. 'The Tower', his impressive creation, showcases his craftsmanship and affords sweeping views. From modest beginnings, Whiteside refined his skills and participated in the maintenance of Blackpool Tower. After settling in Higher Walton, he transformed cottages into a unique home for himself. His eccentric lifestyle revolved around preserving craftsmanship through diverse mediums, reflecting his zeal for reusing materials and pioneering construction.
 
Simon Scott, a skilled Scots master salvager, stone-carver, and stonemason from Cupar, Fife, is known for his ability to reclaim and restore old engineering artifacts. He's equally adept at bricklaying and stonemasonry, often constructing new masonry and repairing stone and brick structures. Raised in Ceres near Cupar, Scott was drawn to a carved stone statue known as The Provost of Ceres. He excelled in art and craftsmanship during school, taking up an apprenticeship as a bricklayer at 16 and honing his skills at Kirkcaldy Technical College. Scotts’s love for working with stone grew as he crafted quoins from large stone blocks for construction projects in Cupar. After his apprenticeship, he established himself as a qualified bricklayer. His fascination with eighteenth and nineteenth-century constructions, as well as Victorian architecture, fueled his passion for restoration and repurposing. In his early thirties, Scott became self-employed, operating from a workshop at Murdocairnie Farm near Rathillet. He's recognised for his signature carved mushroom, often placed in his creations. Simon's dedication shone during the pandemic as he carved a rainbow and a stone heart, donating the rainbow to Kilmaron School and placing the heart at Adamson Hospital. His love for salvaging extends to unique items like stone troughs, cast-iron greenhouse floor grates, and Victorian horse troughs. His passion for finding forgotten pieces from the past remains strong. His expertise in stonemasonry has led him to diverse projects across the British Isles, where he's contributed to numerous construction sites. His journey exemplifies his commitment to preserving history through craftsmanship.
 
In 2022, the 21st year of Andy Graham's self-employment in the reclamation business, the yard based in Sowerby Bridge is a testament to Graham’s journey. After leaving full-time education, financial work filled the first 15 years of his career, though office life wasn't a fit. Salvaging and driving heavy machinery became a passion alongside his regular job. This interest was fostered by his father and uncle, both mechanically-inclined men. Childhood experiences like clearing cellars ignited his fascination with repurposing. In 2000, he transitioned into self-employment, acquiring a cast concrete flags business. His love for restoration and architectural salvage took root. Graham’s affinity for Yorkshire sandstone troughs led to repurposing antique ones or crafting new ones with his friend. Over 21 years, he embraced the surprises of each day, the hunt for unique pieces, and the joy of meeting fellow enthusiasts. Reclaimed York stone flags have been a cornerstone of his work, leading to interesting finds and tales. Notably, he purchased old flags from Lousy Farm, linked to Patrick Bronte, and later sold them to a historic farmhouse owner. Another connection emerged as he supplied flags for a BBC Bronte drama set, only to discover they were laid upside down for an aged appearance.
 
In McEwen’s book, Andy Graham mentions the Bronte sisters and brother.
‘This brings me on to another connection of sorts to the Bronte's, for back in 2016 a colleague of mine in the flagstone trade was approached by a film production company who were making a one-off drama for the BBC about the Bronte sisters and their brother Branwell, titled To Walk Invisible. As they couldn't do any of the actual filming at the genuine locations in Haworth due to the famous hill-top village being extremely busy with tourists, the film company spent a king's ransom actually building full scale replicas of Haworth Parsonage, the cemetery, chapel, cottages and the famous cobbled street, on the site of a rock-strewn car park on top of Penistone Hill on the outskirts of Haworth village.
For the construction of the village pavements on either side of the cobbles, around 300 square metres of reclaimed York stone flags were urgently required, and only genuine quality flagstones. Quite a task for any one dealer, so my colleague asked if I could go in and help source and deliver the flags. We spent weeks buying up stone flags from far and wide, armed with the knowledge that it had to be the right stuff. I had already delivered about five loads to the hill-top sited 'Haworth Village' which had become more spectacular each time I visited, but it was on my final trip with the last fifty metres load that I noticed contractors had actually started to lay the flags. On viewing the extensive flagged area, I quickly realised they were laying the beautifully smooth flags upside down! Shaking my head in astonishment I looked again and confirmed the flags were definitely upside down! I asked one of the contractors what was happening. The man explained after laying scores of the heavy York stone flags, the film director came on set and said they looked "too nice", and wanted a more rugged distressed look, so instructed us to lay them all upside down with the rough reverse side showing. I was gob-smacked, for my colleague and I had spent weeks scouring reclaimed stone yards all over West Yorkshire looking for genuine nice quality flags and paying top money for them, when we could have literally supplied rough old mill flags. Nonetheless, our flags looked good when we eventually watched the television drama.’
 
Throughout his journey, Graham’s passion for salvaging, restoring, and repurposing has never wavered. The stories and connections behind each piece fuel his love for the work.
 
Upon discovering Stego Parker's captivating scrap metal sculptures at Masham, an interest was sparked. Seeking more, a visit to his workshop at Old Sleningford Farm followed. Despite finding the workshop locked, Stego's creative prowess was apparent from a phone conversation. A gifted artist with a 3D imagination and a knack for detailed sketches, Stego's journey began in his twenties when he studied design in York, focusing on agricultural and industrial machinery. Without proper tools or a workspace, fate intervened when he met farmer Graham Clarke of Swanby Farm. Clarke had a collection of old plough parts and commissioned Stego to create a mythical flying creature, kickstarting Stego's career. Operating from the farm's workshop, Stego crafted ‘The Beast of the North’, a velociraptor-inspired sculpture. The local response was positive, leading to more commissions, including a dolphin and a pair of vultures. The collaboration between Stego and Clarke combined a passion for wildlife and creativity.
 
Willmow Reclamation & Salvage Ltd was established by Will Mowbray in the summer of 2017. He developed a passion for buying and selling from a young age, which led to him attending auctions and selling items online. Will's interest shifted towards reclamation and salvage, and he teamed up with his skilled stonemason father, David. They began trading architectural antiques and reclaimed building materials, eventually purchasing Black Brook Mill Yard. Their dedication to clearing debris and creating a new building showcased their commitment. Today, Willow Reclamation & Salvage is a well regarded name in the salvage industry in the North West of England.
 
Clive Wilson, the founder of Wilson Reclamation Services, is widely respected for his extensive knowledge and friendly demeanour in the Salvage and Reclamation trade. After a career in the RAF and family scrap metal business, Clive started his own venture in the mid-1980s. He rented a yard near Kendal to salvage timber and building materials, facing harsh weather conditions. In 1986, Clive and his wife Pamela discovered Yew Tree Barn, a historic building where they began to expand their business. Over time, Yew Tree Barn became known for its unique salvaged items and hosted various ventures, including Harry's Café, managed by their son Harry. Clive's journey in the salvage trade has been marked by remarkable finds and interactions with fascinating characters, establishing his position as a key figure in the industry.
 
McEwen writes: ‘Harry's Cafe is now firmly on the map as a special place to eat and drink, offering an eclectic menu with local ingredients, a traditional Sunday lunch, and hosting a very popular monthly supper club. Indeed, the furnishings and fittings reflect the family reclamation business, with choice antique furniture, slate flag floors, décor, paintings and light fittings, being original and stylish and creating a unique ambience ... Yew Tree Barn is a whole family affair since James, Harry's older brother, joined the business from London in 2016 to pursue his passion for decorative antiques and garden statuary and to help continue to grow what is regarded as the foremost architectural reclamation yards in the UK. James is primarily based in Kent where he has an old forge, open by appointment for trade and retail, which gives Yew Tree Barn nationwide reach for buying and selling.'
 
Other businesses featured in the book include Lee Haywood of Yorkshire Garden Antiques, Tony Parkinson of Parktannas Retro Yard and Chris Swales the master stonecarver.
 
Copies of the book may be purchased from both the DANDELION website and from the publishing firm Sledgehammer Engineering Press Ltd.