WITH his tattoos and piercings, Josh Walker is the epitome of a modern young man.

But his profession belongs to a bygone era when cloth was woven on looms driven by steam power and people were paid in pennies.

In fact, 22-year-old Josh wasn’t sure what the role entailed when he applied for a technician’s job at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum in Burnley.

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“I like working with my hands and I love anything mechanical, so I had my fingers crossed that it would be something interesting, ” says Josh who has a BTec in music and Business A-Level.

But he couldn’t have been more delighted when he got the job spec. For the former coal man was charged with stoking the boiler at the world’s last remaining operational steam-powered weaving mill.

The museum collections are designated as being of national importance and the boiler house, engine house and chimney have Ancient Monument status.

The 500 horsepower steam engine “Peace” runs daily when the museum is open and the weaving shed with working looms, the coal-fired Lancashire boiler and other working machinery are all regularly demonstrated for visitors.

“I was quite amazed that something like this was still working after 100 years,” says Josh, from Burnley, who’s been happy in his work for two years.

He is responsible for the boiler plant and alongside Mill Engineer Aly Rogers, he assists with Peace, the steam engine.

“In the morning I fire up the coal fire boilers and load them up with coal, light them up, build the steam up and in the afternoon it’s about constantly shovelling coal in for most of the day.

“I also help with any maintenance that needs doing and help run the steam engine which powers the mill and the 100 looms we have left.”

The Victorian mill once housed 1,000 looms for weaving cloth which the 50-tonne steam engine used to power.

“Now it’s a working museum and we’re running everything as it was back then, so I’m in the boiler house shovelling away and Aly is upstairs looking after the engine.

“It’s really hard physical work, but it’s great.”

Josh’s job is a one-off and something of a talking point down the pub with his mates.

“I think they’re a bit fed up of me talking about it now,” he says. “Before I worked here during the winter months I was a coal merchant and in the summer months I worked as a builder so I’ve always been covered in muck and turned up at the pub in a boiler suit with a black face, so nothing has changed really.

“I just love machinery, anything with an engine and steam makes me happy.

“I’m always tinkering with my motorbike and fixing things. It’s a great job and I feel very privileged to be doing it. I don’t think there are any other boiler men in the country.”

His role also has his girlfriend’s approval as she’s a history graduate.

“She loves anything historical.

“Mind you, I think she gets a bit fed up of me putting black hand prints on the walls at home,” he says.