Historic steelmaking images come to Middlesbrough

As the last blast furnace on Teesside ceases production, a new exhibition of previously unseen steelmaking images can be seen at the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough.

Over 40 woodblock prints have been brought together for this unique exhibition, including 15 depicting the process of making steel.

The unusual subject matter is the work of Yorkshire artist Viva Talbot (1900-1983), who created the images during the 1930s when it was almost unknown for women to be allowed access to the steelworks.

During her lifetime Viva created hundreds of woodblock prints. This exhibition, developed by Dr Joan Heggie, a Research Fellow at Teesside University, also contains personal items such as sketch books, photographs and even one of Viva’s diaries.

The exhibition can be seen from Tuesday 30 March to Sunday 18 July, at the Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. Admission is free.

Free public lecture Dr Joan Heggie will also give a public lecture about the exhibition at the museum on Thursday 17 June.

The chance discovery of these prints in 2006 generated a new research interest for their finder, Dr Heggie, who was initially unable to find any information about Viva Talbot.

Her name was absent from reference books and it was a mystery why and how she had gained such privileged access to the steelworks. Since then Dr Heggie has spent every spare minute piecing together the story of Viva Talbot, her life and her art.

Viva was the daughter of Benjamin Talbot (1864-1947), inventor of the Talbot tilting furnace which transformed the Open Hearth method of producing steel. Benjamin Talbot, originally from Shropshire, came to Teesside at the beginning of the 20th Century. Having spent a decade working for iron companies in America, Talbot brought new ideas back to England at a time when they were much needed.

He became involved with two companies in particular – Cargo Fleet Iron Company (Middlesbrough) and the South Durham Steel & Iron Company (Stockton) - both of which are possible locations for the steelmaking images. In 1925, he became Managing Director of both companies and Chairman of the Board in 1940.

Viva Talbot married Thomas Nussey in 1941 and within a few years she became Lady Nussey when Thomas inherited a baronetcy from his father.

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