Historical information

The circular cast iron object is a lid that was originally fastened into a ship tank. This particular lid is cast with the name ‘Lancaster & Co Bow London E’ in capitals in a continuous circle on the outer edge of the lid face, and has the words ‘Bow Tank Works’ on the inner circle. It is the same type of round heavy lid that was made by tank manufacturer John Bellamy although it may be a younger example. According to Pearson, the Lancaster & Co firm produced tanks between 1910 and 1930 from their works in Bow, East London. It was possibly preceded by the company, Lancaster & Bawn, which ran between the 1870s and 1890s.Pearson has collected a list of Lancaster & Co tank lids that he and others have sighted at various locations in Australia including Coolgardie, WA; Gulgong Museum, NSW; the Quarantine Station, Sydney NSW; Blundell’s Cottage, NSW; and Woolmers homestead complex, TAS. In addition, Lewis has identified lids at Ayrdale, NSW, and the shearing shed at Murndal homestead, Western Victoria. It is most likely that more than three lids survive in Victoria and more will be identified, however, as noted by Pearson, ‘surviving lids are far less numerous than the tanks themselves, presumably because the uses to which the tanks were put did not require the lid to be retained’.Parks Victoria has identified five tank lids in the lightstation collections. There is another Lancaster & Co lid at Cape Otway and possibly a second example there as well. In addition there are Bellamy lids at Point Hicks and Cape Otway and an unidentified lid at Wilsons Promontory, and a tank without a lid at Wilsons Promontory.

Significance

The Lancaster & Co ship tank lid has first level contributory significance for its historic values.

Physical description

Circular cast-iron disc, with raised outer ridge with inscription and inner depression with inscription. One metal section forms a handle over an inner depression.

Inscriptions & markings

Around perimeter of outer edge "BOW LONDON.E LANCASTER & CO " Around inner area "BOW ANK WORK"