2-547-998 - Worldwide Photography/Heritage-Images

Construction of the reservoir, Manvers Main Colliery, Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire, 1955. A Priestman tracked crane at work during the construction of the reservoir at the colliery, near Rotherham. Priestman Brothers were based in Hull. The company was founded in 1870 by William Dent Priestman. The company began the manufacture of construction equipment in 1876 when they were asked to construct machinery to recover lost gold from the sea off the west coast of Spain. No gold was found but the company's equipment proved useful for dredging of harbours and docks. After many acquisitions, the company eventually merged with Coles Cranes of Sunderland, and began building offshore cranes for North Sea oil rig platforms. The company now trades in Bradford under its new owner, Gardner Denver, an American based compressor and blower manufacturer. What is left of Priestman no longer manufactures cranes or excavators.