Title of Talk: Warrington’s hidden Transporter Bridge  

By Margaret Ingham

 

We are all aware of Runcorn’s Transporter Bridge but few know of a similar bridge in Warrington. It was constructed in 1916/7 to connect the two parts of the large chemical and soap works of Joseph Crosfield & Sons. Built by Arrol & Co, the bridge has a span of 200 ft (61 m), is 30 ft (9.1 m) wide, 76 ft (23 m) feet above high water level, with an overall length of 339 ft (103 m) feet and a total height of 89 ft (27 m).It was originally designed to carry rail vehicles up to 18 long tons (18 tonnes) in weight, and was converted for road vehicles in 1940.

Sponsor: Mr & Mrs Ian Rogers

 

All Welcome: £3 at the door for visitors

Winsford’s Inspector of Nuisances

When I began these notes, I intended to confine myself to my own recollections of Wharton as it was before World War I. But I soon found that I was not able to hold rigidly to the narrow course I had planned. [Read more…]

Edith May Dempster was born in Yorkshire in 1883, the daughter of wealthy industrial manufacturer Robert Dempster and his wife Elizabeth. In 1894 at the age of 11 she was sent to Wimbledon House School in Brighton, a school run by three sisters Penelope, Dorothy and Millicent Lawrence along somewhat progressive lines, preparing girls for entrance to the newly opened Girton and Newnham Colleges at Cambridge. During her time there the school moved to its new premises on the outskirts of Brighton and became known as Roedean. Leaving Roedean in 1899 she spent the next few years travelling extensively with her parents, including trips to Egypt, Italy, France, the USA and the West Indies, and in 1901 she spent six months in Paris “to improve her French” with a friend Isabel and a governess. [Read more…]

A LETTER FROM THE PAST

After the death of Margaret Thomas, one of the founder members of our Society, we were contacted by her daughter Janet. Amongst her mother’s many books and papers there were some that Janet thought we would appreciate.  Many heavy parcels then made their way to Winsford and into our archives.  Months passed and we were once more contacted by Janet to alert us to the existence of a letter from Mr. John Henry Cooke, Solicitor and Clerk to Winsford Urban District Council.  He had written to the new Chairman – Mr. Parker – his version of events reminiscing on 50 years of progress in the town. Janet had sent this to the Cheshire Record Office but thought that we would want to know of its existence.  A visit to Chester and hours of further research resulted in the following article.  It serves to remind us how important it is to treasure the letters and memories our ancestors leave behind and what an important resource for social history they are. [Read more…]

232 High Street was purpose built as a general store by William and Emma Kennerley sometime between 1900 and 1902, after purchasing the land in 1880, for £66, 10 shillings, and 6pence, from Lord Delamere, via John Henry Cooke.

The shop (we believe) was then rented out to their son William Jr. Sadly, by 1907 both William Senior and Emma had passed away. They had left the property to William, who ran the store for another 19 years. William Jr later passed 232 High Street onto to his wife Fanny, after his death in 1926. At this point we believe his wife Fanny and her son Albert, took over the running of the store for a further 12 years. [Read more…]

In the mid 1960’s Reverend George Howson, the then Vicar at St Chad’s Church, Over, was concerned when the plans to develop Winsford as an overspill area for Manchester and Liverpool were finally passed.  [Read more…]

At the height of salt production many local families were associated with the trade on the River Weaver. In Winsford, names such as Bracegirdle, Hough, Fitton, Bowden, Hulse, Atherton, Curzon and Robinson come to mind.  [Read more…]

Littler Grange stands off Littler Lane in Over, Winsford, an impressive building erected in the 16^th century and is grade 2 listed.  [Read more…]