Cravens Carriage and Wagon Company Limited produced high class railway coaches and carriages for orders all over the world. The works occupied a large site on Staniforth Road, Darnall, Sheffield and employed hundreds of men (and women) from the local area. A form of sprayed (blue) asbestos was used in the construction of the railway coaches and sadly this industry, despite its world class reputation at the time, has left a deadly legacy in the Sheffield area.
We have had the sad privilege of representing many former employees, from senior management to cleaning staff. No one could escape the lethal effects of the asbestos dust. We have represented draftsman, template makers, coach builders and fitters and many more who have developed asbestos related diseases, both benign and malignant, as a result of their work at Cravens in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. The railway coach and carriage building industry was at its peak during this time. In later years, as the railway coach industry began to decline, Cravens focussed more on wagon and container production for rail and road. In the 1970’s and 80’s Cravens developed injection moulding machines for plastics at the Staniforth Road, Darnall, Sheffield site. This was under the name of Cravens Machines Limited or Bone Cravens Limited. Many of the employees of Cravens Machines Limited/Bone Cravens Limited were also exposed to asbestos from contamination of the works at Staniforth Road.
The steel chassis of the railway coach was sprayed with blue limpet asbestos (manufactured by JW Roberts Limited). This was for fire protection and for noise insulation. The coach frame was then fitted out on the exterior and interior. The coach builders and fitters would drill and cut through the dried asbestos insulation in order to fit out the timber interior. The coaches were fitted to a high standard by quality craftsman. Many employees remember the railway coaches that were built for the King of Siam. They were finished with gold plating in some areas and Cravens even held an open day for their employees and families to view the finished coaches before they were shipped overseas.
The Cravens men took great pride in their work and many men remember their days with affection when they learnt a valuable trade. Many were members of the Cravens football team. They also describe the fun they had, as young lads, making snowballs out of the left over sprayed asbestos. Little did they know at the time the devastating effect that this could have on their health 30 to 60 years later. Their employer failed to warn them of the risk that the asbestos materials presented to their health. They were not warned or provided with any respiratory protection.
The Cravens business ceased to exist in the 1990’s but claims can still be brought against the resurrected company. The claims are handled by claims handlers for the insurers of Cravens who are also now in an insolvency arrangement. Successful claims for compensation are ultimately paid by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Documents filed at Companies House show the various name changes of Cravens as follows:-
• Company incorporated in July 1891 as Cravens Limited.
• Changed its name to Cravens Carriage and Wagon Company Limited in July 1919.
• Changed its name to Cravens Limited in June 1954.
• Changed its name to Cravens Homalloy (Sheffield) Limited in July 1967.
• Changed its name to Craven Tasker (Sheffield) Limited in April 1977.
• Changed its name to Montracon Tasker Limited in March 1993.