The History of the Early Chemical Industry in Widnes

Friday 9th September. From 6pm. At St Marie’s, Lugsdale Road, Widnes.

St Marie’s Heritage Group are proud to present an evening of lectures and live music

Local Historian Bob Roach will describe how, as a result of the arrival of the chemical industry in Widnes in 1847, the area changed from an isolated rural setting with several villages, to a major centre of the chemical industry with manufacturing processes that were extremely polluting.

As a result Widnes was described as ‘the dirtiest, ugliest and most depressing town in England’ in the 1880s.

Bob’s talk will be broken up by some live musical performances from Widnes’ superb singer songwriter, Greg Oldfield. Greg will be singing songs inspired by residents’ memories of Halton when the chemical industry was at its height. The songs were collected for a project and released on a critically acclaimed CD “Smoking Dragons” (by The Fetch and Greg Oldfield).

To book your free place at the event, please contact Matthew Roberts on (01928) 592 405 or mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk.

Places are limited.