Trivia Investigation Team

[CitroJim]

Wow! That's absolute magic Thanks all

Another bit of local history learned!

[NewcastleFalcon]

ROCLA is the investigation of the Day

Stemming from Jims POTD today

And an explanatory pipe...


It's on the end of a concrete pipe as previously the land was the site of the ROCLA concrete pipe factory...

It was seen as a great opportunity for a pipe factory given there would be tremendous demand for them in the building of Milton Keynes... They were a big employer for a time and successful but sadly it did not last...

Any contributions, trivia and tangents welcome as ever

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Thanks Neil, I'll be watching with interest on any ROCLA stuff

Surprised to hear they're still going in South Africa! I have a feeling there was some sort of scandal surrounding their MK operation but can't recall any details now...

They've been gone a long time... So long in fact that the site remained derelict for around 20 years whilst Sainsburys struggled to get planning permission to build a bit supermarket on the site...

They failed but many years later Lidl succeeded in building one of theirs nearby...

[mickthemaverick]

Here's a little thing for you to follow up Jim, the ROCLA (not the pipe makers methinks) art trail in Milton Keynes:

https://miltonkeyneskids.com/blog/rocla/

But this is where to discover the pipe company's doings:

http://www.rocla.co.za/

[NewcastleFalcon]

I have no idea whether the ROCLA which rocked up in Milton Keynes, made concrete pipes and other such things for the creation of Milton Keynes, had anything to do with the South African ROCLA who do the same thing or indeed this other ROCLA from "down under" who also do the same thing in the world of concrete pipes.

They do have, the most interesting and longest history est 1922 and still going today)history proudly discussed on their website. No need to pour through it. I'll extract the gist

Like many great Australian companies, Rocla sprang from humble beginnings in a suburban shed. Two friends – Walter Robertson and Heaton Clarke – registered the company in 1922 and combined the initial letters of their surnames to form the Rocla® brand name. More than 100 years on the Rocla name continues to be associated with high quality concrete products.

Rocla Pty Ltd is a leading Australian supplier of concrete solutions to the building and construction industry. Rocla has been a part of New Zealand’s Fletcher Building group since March 2005.

Rocla provides a uniquely comprehensive range of innovative engineered solutions for stormwater piping, pits, headwalls and Box Culverts, sewerage piping and access systems, irrigation, stormwater detention and treatment, rainwater harvesting, water storage, bridging and earth retention, as well as concrete poles, building columns, boardwalks and railway sleepers.

If there isn't a link its a bit unusual for 3 companies, all called Rocla who made/still make concrete pipes and other concrete castings for building/civil engineering its a huge co-incidence

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Nothing to do with Rocla, but I'll give 50 point for an unusual spot for an original photo of concrete lamppost posted on POTD, and 100 points if its a rare swans neck concrete lamppost

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Thanks for all the ROCLA stuff Most excellent!

Seeing a particular piece of sculpture on MK Kids website, I took a photo of the same yesterday on my run and was going to post it later...

So here it is