Wigan Album
RYLANDS
11 CommentsPhoto: Duncan
Item #: 27915
Gidlow Mills still exists, albeit in very poor condition. A fairly recent fire didn't help things.
I think this later became Thomas Witter and Heapey became a paper mill.
Ken. When it was Witter's. Didn't they manufacture Carpets, and Linoleum?. One of the Witter family married one of Mr Baker's sisters'. Mr Baker owned "Baker's Jewel Casket", in the Market Place, Wigan.
The mill was serviced by a railway line which went under the main line via Walkden Avenue before veering right to join the main line at Gidlow It ran under the bridge in the middle of the road I once came a cropper there on my bike, as did many others It was lethal
AB, I remeber that railway line going across the road, still there in the 1960's, I don't know if it was still in use at that time.
They also made linolium but I dont remember carpets I worked there from 1968 till 1971 and them moved to the Netherlands best move I ever made.
I worked for Thomas Witter and Company, Limited from 1965 till 1982. I worked at Water Street Chorley and after being taken over by Tarmac moved to Heapey where they had a printed feltbas factory and papermill. They also manufactured tufted carpets at Cowling Mill they were Dyed and backed at Lower Healey. They had a Roofing Felt factory at Appley Bridge (British Hydroflex)
I worked at Witters from 1974 until 1982, when we were made redundant. I was based at Water Street but worked at all the factories as a temp on switchboard/reception. Happy days! I know Vincent, worked in the same office for a short time/
my father worked at brickworks appley bridge then lino works for thomas witter in 1968 went to thomas witters heapey chorley and finally bone works till 1980s when he retired.
I worked at Water Street early seventies then Heapy are any factories still operating happy days back living in Scotland now great memories of Chorley and Adlington
My brother Robert Earl worked for Thomas Witters Chorley as an electrician and received a 25 years service watch sadly my lovely brother died in 2008 however I know he always enjoyed working there.
If anyone's got any old photo's, I'd love to see them.