Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford was the second of three generations of brush-makers,
following in the footsteps of his father and master brush-maker, John Telford.
Thomas was a businessman who has expanded his father’s business into a proper factory, someone with a bit of civic spirit who was very dedicated to getting on the council and other official bodies and helping to make Elswick a better place.
Their story can be heard in the poem, ‘A Sweep Through Time’ (written and performed by Donald Jenkins).
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford was the second of three generations of brush-makers,
following in the footsteps of his father and master brush-maker, John Telford.
Thomas was a businessman who has expanded his fathers business into a proper factory,
someone with a bit of civic spirit who was very dedicated to getting on the council
and other official bodies and helping to make Elswick a better place.
A Sweep Through Time
by Donald Jenkins
Steady journeymen, precision brush makers
sit round a pitch pan,
their masterful hands dip bristles
into warm black tar of woodman’s glue,
tying root ends with twine.
In spilt seconds – pine sap cools,
wiry bundles are stuffed in stock,
craftsmen determine
if this will be a fine broom,
do fibers align to get a good bend?
Their calloused palms don’t forget
toil of elders who got them there,
elders who knew only farm life,
cattle fence builders
with well-seasoned elm.
.
Elders who left behind field work,
chilling threats of hunger,
joined exodus
to secure their worth,
prove their hands had value.
