Wigan Album

Great photo Phil you can see the Merrick Arms ? and the Railway hotels bowling green but cant see any thing of the lino factory on the south side of the canal.

Mick, these photos were taken in 1928 which think was before the factory was built. The factory on the south side of the canal was an Oil & Varnish Works. It first appears on a 1960 OS map and its last appearance is on a late 70's early 80's OS map. I can't seem to find any more info but I'll try to upload a map.

There was nothing there in the 60s and the 70s except a dump for old lino.
The lino in them days had there own fire team and at 9pm every night one of them would walk down to the dump to see if it was on fire.
He carried a special clock with him to prove that he had done his fore watch rounds.

My father worked for Whitters Lino Works Appley Bridge until his death in 1967.I dont think they carried on production of Lino much after that,i think they went on t o making roofing felt.
They also had a factory at Heapy near Chorley

Witters had 5 or 6 factories in Chorley in addition to this one. I was told The owner lived in Southport I think it was Thomas Witter himself. He retired and sold out to Tarmac. They did not know how many factories there were when they took over

the owners name was Bowser, He lived opposite Birkdale Golf club Southport.

Your right his Name was Bowser, thankyou, He always up o his retirement attend lancashire health and safety meetings personally. My friend ( Now deceased) was a safety officer and new him well from these nmeetings.He did a deal with Tarmacfor the lot

Both my late father (Tommy) and myself worked at the factory, Tommy when it looked like this (i vaguely remember it), and then both of us when it was owned by Tarmac (as Tarmac Roofing Systems ) then Ruberoid. Tommy was transport manager when the factory produced lino and then later roofing felt, and I started (in the roofing felt days) on the production line and then ended up as Transport manager after he died. Tommy worked with Bowser, and knew him very well.

It was also called British Hydroflex at some stage in the 1980's

My grandfather work at lino in the 2nd World War his name was Harry Brown from Back Lane he use to be also the postman his job at the time was sorting out the rags which were send from all over the world in bundles because during the war at lino they made camouflage nets for the army and I remmber being told he became ill from germs from the rags.

I worked at Witters Chorley in the carpet factory Cowling mill for 18 years is name was Harvey Bowser

This photo brings back memories! My dad (Brian Wilson) was a lorry driver for years at Witters, and also worked at Heapy. Can anyone remember him? Every summer holidays he used to tell me the dreaded words ... 'I've managed to get you on in the warehouse for six weeks!'

My Uncle ( David Blundell ) worked here all his life I remember him coming home covered in dust , sadly he passed away this morning.

To Dave Wilson.
Dave I remember your dad so well. I worked for Whitters and then British Hydroflex, when they introduced roofing felt.
I left to start my own business in Halesowen, distributing BH roofing felts in the Midlands.
Your dad delivered full loads to me two or three times most weeks, at our peak.
He was always cheerful and such good company. One of many of the same I counted as friends at BH.
I wish it was possible to send them all my best wishes. My time there grew into a love for Lancashire.

My late Dad..Bill Riley..started work at Whitters..as the run around boy..after many years he became Production Manager..so many fond memories he used to talk about..i know all the stories so well..He was the person that went to Ireland and learned about the production of roofing felt..and fetched the knowledge back to Appley Bridge..along with the very first roofing felt production line..

Debbie Riley - I bet your Dad (whose name did ring a bell) knew my late Uncle Tony (Haslam).

Anyone know Arthur Winnard (MY GRANDAD) 1930s? who was a fireman at the Works. Lived up Appley Lane with Grandma Jane (nee Pye)? (Children, Phil, Eva, Mona & Eileen)

I worked at Water Street in sales office from 1963, I remember Roy Gill and the other salesmen. We sold Balatum feltbase and Vinyl Asbestos floor tiles carpets and roofing felt under the British Hydroflex name.

My father George Dickinson worked at Witters, Appley Bridge 1950 / 1965.
The man who owned Witters lived in the Southport area.
He had a chauffer driven Rolls Royce / Bentley ??
His driver lived on Ormskirk Road UpHolland.
In the early 1950s it wasn't unusual to see the car parked overnight on Ormskirk Road outside the chauffeurs house.
Imagine if the car was parked on Ormskirk Road these days - it would either be stolen or vandalised.

My father worked for Witter's appley bridge in the 1960s,then went to heapey factory 1968 - 1979. His name was James abram his mother lived on canal bank