Steel, Strength, and Scunthorpe: Ian Lee Reflects on 88 AND OUT

For nearly 90 years, Scunthorpe Plate Mill shaped not only steel but the world itself. From bridges and buildings to battleships and flood defences, the steel plates forged in this historic Northern mill helped support the infrastructure of modern life.

In 88 AND OUT, author and photographer Ian Lee offers a powerful reflection on the site, the people, and the legacy of an industrial giant. With striking photography and personal insight, this book captures the enduring spirit of the mill and the workers whose pride and precision defined its legacy.

We caught up with Ian to learn more about his connection to Scunthorpe Plate Mill, the making of the book, and why preserving industrial history still matters today.

What first inspired you to create a photographic and historical record of the Scunthorpe Plate Mill?

When the Plate Mill closure was announced in 2015, there wasn’t much interest from the management team to commemorate the occasion. Being interested in photography, I took it upon myself to photograph the last few weeks of manufacturing operations along with the people who worked there.

My interest then grew into researching historical archives, and then I was fortunate to be able to photograph the demolition of the mill, which started in 2018. Nobody else was doing anything to record the place, so I decided to.

Did you or your family have a personal connection to the mill or the steel industry?

Yes, both my father & I worked at the Plate Mill. My father, ‘Nobby’, was a shift supervisor. He retired in 1991. I worked in the finishing end of the mill on the loading bank.

The photographs in the book are incredibly atmospheric. What was your process for capturing the spirit and story of the site?

I worked closely with the demolition company to capture action shots, sometimes taking hundreds of pictures of the same thing to capture the one which felt right. The book is laid out in a way that takes you through a journey from the early years of the mill through to modern-day rolling, the closure phase & then the final demolition. I don’t think this has ever been done before.

As you researched and compiled the book, were there any discoveries that surprised or moved you?

Working there for over 30 years, you still don't know the place until you photograph it from front to back.

The mill's steel has contributed to major global landmarks. Was there one project or structure that stood out to you as especially meaningful?

IBCC in Lincoln. The spire is made of Corten steel, and I was part of the photographic department on the construction of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.

What was the most challenging part of putting together this kind of book, and what was the most rewarding?

Researching British Steel Archives & collecting the documentation was a challenge. I spent weeks & months getting all the information into a chronological order, and then, obviously, the finished book was the reward.

The book is a tribute to the people as much as the place. What do you think made the community around the mill so special?

The mill was like a family, and there was always help and advice if you needed it. Employees worked there for many years, which says something about the way of life. It wasn’t the best-paid job in the steelworks, but people came to work with a smile.

For those unfamiliar with Scunthorpe or the mill’s legacy, what do you hope this book will help them understand or appreciate?

I hope it will give people a glimpse through time of a typical rolling mill at the Scunthorpe Steelworks, the 88 years of plate production and the many processes involved. People soon forget there was ever a Plate Mill or the heritage that was handed down through the generations.

Do you think there’s a renewed interest in preserving industrial heritage? How important is it for future generations?

Yes, I do. Scunthorpe was born out of the steelworks, & there will come a time when steelmaking is no longer there. The Plate Mill is a prime example of what can happen. It’s important to preserve as much of our industrial heritage as possible so that future generations can try to understand the steelworks landscape & culture that made Scunthorpe what it is.

Where can readers connect with you or find out more about your photography and historical work?

eclipseoneimages@hotmail.com