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Over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing innovative products and delivering customer-focused services
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Local artist, Justin Boyd was commissioned by a Barnsley-based company to create then and now paintings of the site of Dodworth Colliery.
Andel, the UK’s leading developer of environmental protection systems, commissioned Justin to create the paintings of the colliery which stood on the site where their offices now stand at Dodworth Business Park South.
Mark Harris, Commercial Director at Andel commissioned Justin after seeing his paintings exhibited at the Mansion in Roundhay Park, Leeds.
Justin said: “Mark bought one of my paintings for himself, and when he did, he left his card at the gallery to pass on to see if I wanted to meet. I live in Barnsley, close to Andel’s offices, so Mark and I met for lunch.
“I soon realised it’s part of the company’s mantra to support local businesses, which really appealed to me, so we agreed on two paintings and decided on a before and after of the site of Andel.
“As part of my research, I visited the archive room at Barnsley Museum to understand as much as I could about the history of the site. It was hard to pin down exact information as the pit had several names over the years. I believe it was known as Dodworth Colliery then Church Lane Colliery and was owned by Silkstone Collieries Ltd.
“I made a start on the paintings while on paternity leave and drove up to the hill that overlooks the area to sketch the scene. It was winter at the time, so I had to imagine how it would look in the sunshine.
“The earth excavated from the pit was piled in a muck heap on which a silver birch forest has now been planted, and I wanted to capture that in the ‘now’ image. I’m really pleased with how they have both turned out.” Andel, now the UK’s leading developer of specialised leak detection, water sustainability, flood defence, and environmental protection systems, has its own heritage.
Founded in 1992 by the late Ian Pogson, who started the business from his garden shed, creating a leak detection system like no other on the market, Andel went on to employ just a handful of staff. The company increased tenfold in turnover, becoming the biggest employer in Marsden before moving in 2021 to larger, more carbon-neutral premises near Barnsley.
Commercial Director, Mark Harris, said: “The paintings are stunning and hang in our board room so staff and visitors can see how the site looked and learn about the history the lies here.
“The link between past and present industry on the site of Andel has always resonated with me. In some ways, we are continuing what the collieries did - employing local people, providing work and industry for South Yorkshire.
“It’s great to have that reminder of our heritage on the walls in Justin’s paintings.”
