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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 26th May, 2016)

Bungalow


Bungalow
This bungalow at top lock, New Springs was built first as an office for a steel rolling mill that was situated behind it. About a hundred yards to the left of it is what looks like a mine shaft top hidden in the trees. But is the top of a well that supplied water for cooling the steel plates. It would have been very noisy in those days, do not know the dates, but is peaceful enough now.

Photo: Ron Dawber  (Canon power-shot)
Views: 3,525

Comment by: Ken R on 26th May 2016 at 02:05

Nice photo Ron, and thanks for the history lesson.

Comment by: Mick on 26th May 2016 at 06:23

Very interesting Ron.

Comment by: Johnny on 26th May 2016 at 08:27

Nice vista for the occupier to look out on!
Can anyone tell me the name of the steel suppliers in Woodhouse Lane? At Tarmac we bought tons of reinforcing bars from them!

Comment by: Jim Latham on 26th May 2016 at 09:34

Was it GKN? Full name Guest Keen and Nettlefold.

Comment by: Roy on 26th May 2016 at 09:48

Was it not GKN Johnny ?

Comment by: Nev on 26th May 2016 at 10:16

Johnny, it was GKN (Guest, Keen, Nettlefold) at one time.

Comment by: Fred Mason on 26th May 2016 at 11:07

Very pleasant, Ron.

Comment by: Johnny on 26th May 2016 at 11:51

Jim,Roy and Nev you are correct lads.
My memory escaped me. I can remember the bending schedules sent with each enquiry. We dealt with another firm Square Grip from Manchester.

Comment by: Jim Latham on 26th May 2016 at 12:27

Was it GKN? Full name Guest Keen and Nettlefold.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 26th May 2016 at 13:19

Would that have been for the Albion Ironworks....brick tower structure now pretty obscured by trees...Ron?

Comment by: Keith Beckett on 26th May 2016 at 14:04

The business was initially known as Gridweld before being taken over by Tinsley Wire and then GKN.

Comment by: Ron D on 26th May 2016 at 15:49

Neil.The brick tower was a well for cooling steel plates.The name I have no idea,but was a steel mill.
It wasn't GKN that's for sure.

Comment by: Roy on 26th May 2016 at 16:19

Ron, you seem to have got hold of the wrong end of the stick, everyone is referring to GKN on Woodhouse Lane.

Comment by: Ron D on 26th May 2016 at 19:11

Roy. You do surprise me.

Comment by: David on 26th May 2016 at 22:16

Thanks for the photo and the info Ron. I've often wondered what the tower was.

Comment by: Martin b on 27th May 2016 at 12:26

Was it not one of the offices for Kirkliston iron and steel works ???

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