Wigan Album

Obviously Gathurst Station in the fioreground, the Canal behind with the old Navigation pub, top left, but I always though the Robrite was at the top of the photo on the north bank of the canal.

The view was taken from the north - as you point out, the railway is in the foreground, and the railway is north of the canal, which is in the background, to the south.

Dave C - the original Roburite works was in the location shown. They later relocated to north of the canal.

Oops! Mixing Gathurst up with Appley Bridge!!

An explosion was recorded at the Roburite works as May 1916? When 9 men lost their lives. and the Manager recieved a commendation See "Roburite" on Google for some interesting comments.

The area the factory stood on in this photo is now used for horses. Across the canal on the right is the boiler house under construction which would house two Lancashire coal fired boilers, later replaced with a oil fired one. Top, near centre is a large house called the mount which was used for offices. Production in the factory gradually moved across the valley and then northwards up to Vicarage Lane

my auntie worked at Roburite thru the war years and beyond filing grenades with powder. She always said what an awful job it was. Also been to some great xmas parties as a child.

Thanks Mick.....hope you were better a RE at school rather than Geography Rev !!!!