MIHS JOURNALS
The Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society Journals encompass a range of topics on industrial history and archaeology in Merseyside, featuring private research by MIHS members, projects undertaken by MIHS, and contributions from guest writers.
All journals available from Malcolm Verity [email protected]
MIHS JOURNAL 7 - July 2022
Volume 7 in our recent series was published in July 2022, is in A4 format and contains six articles by members and associates:
SHELL STORAGE BUNKERS, ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORY, KIRKBY - Maurice Handley’s investigation of a group of WWII shell bunkers, with a listing application.
JOHN TOMKINSON, MASTER MASON & STONE MERCHANT - Sue Lorimer’s account of the activities of an important 19th c. stone mason and contractor to the Liverpool and Birkenhead docks.
MAKING A CODD BOTTLE - ORAL HISTORY - Maurice Handley’s investigation into the manufacturing techniques behind an early design of self-sealing bottle.
IT HAPPENED HERE - THE SUTTON TUNNEL DISASTER APRIL 30, 1851 - Malcolm Verity’s research into a little known, but influential, local railway accident.
PRESCOT RESERVOIR - Adaptive re-use of a Water Tower and Engine House and demolition of a WWII Air Raid Shelter Maurice Handley’s exploration of some redundant water supply buildings and account of their imaginative re-use.
SEWER GAS DESTRUCTOR LAMPS - A TALE OF A SOUTHPORT STREET LAMP - David Willis’s discovery of an unusual type of Victorian streetlamp and research into its into its history.
This edition marks the first time our Journal has been professionally published in b/w and colour, with excellent results. It is priced at £5.00, and we will have plenty of copies available at the Social Evening. If you would like a copy by mail, then send a cheque for £6.50 to the Treasurer or contact her for bank transfer details.
Sadly, our Journal Editor, Maurice Handley, wishes to stand down, after masterminding the evolution of the Journal into a professional production that bears comparison with anything from a similar society. If you would like to consider taking up this role, which does so much for the image of the society, then why not discuss it with
The Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society Journals encompass a range of topics on industrial history and archaeology in Merseyside, featuring private research by MIHS members, projects undertaken by MIHS, and contributions from guest writers.
All journals available from Malcolm Verity [email protected]
MIHS JOURNAL 7 - July 2022
Volume 7 in our recent series was published in July 2022, is in A4 format and contains six articles by members and associates:
SHELL STORAGE BUNKERS, ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORY, KIRKBY - Maurice Handley’s investigation of a group of WWII shell bunkers, with a listing application.
JOHN TOMKINSON, MASTER MASON & STONE MERCHANT - Sue Lorimer’s account of the activities of an important 19th c. stone mason and contractor to the Liverpool and Birkenhead docks.
MAKING A CODD BOTTLE - ORAL HISTORY - Maurice Handley’s investigation into the manufacturing techniques behind an early design of self-sealing bottle.
IT HAPPENED HERE - THE SUTTON TUNNEL DISASTER APRIL 30, 1851 - Malcolm Verity’s research into a little known, but influential, local railway accident.
PRESCOT RESERVOIR - Adaptive re-use of a Water Tower and Engine House and demolition of a WWII Air Raid Shelter Maurice Handley’s exploration of some redundant water supply buildings and account of their imaginative re-use.
SEWER GAS DESTRUCTOR LAMPS - A TALE OF A SOUTHPORT STREET LAMP - David Willis’s discovery of an unusual type of Victorian streetlamp and research into its into its history.
This edition marks the first time our Journal has been professionally published in b/w and colour, with excellent results. It is priced at £5.00, and we will have plenty of copies available at the Social Evening. If you would like a copy by mail, then send a cheque for £6.50 to the Treasurer or contact her for bank transfer details.
Sadly, our Journal Editor, Maurice Handley, wishes to stand down, after masterminding the evolution of the Journal into a professional production that bears comparison with anything from a similar society. If you would like to consider taking up this role, which does so much for the image of the society, then why not discuss it with
MIHS JOURNAL 6
A TAINTED LAGACY? ... FAWCETT PRESTON & CO LTD (1860 - 1865) - Peter Norris writes about Liverpool foundry’s involvement in the American Civil War.
SKEW ARCH BRIDGES IN MERSETSIDE & BEYOND - Maurice Handley provides a detailed explanation of types of skew arch bridge and a local gazetteer.
THE WILLIS BRANCH RAILWAY - Peter Snow – a history and updated description of an early branch line on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
TRAFFORD MILL - Roy Coppack - the medieval and post-medieval history of a water mill on the River Gowy in Cheshire.
CABLE MAKING AT HELSBY - ORIGINS & EARLY YEARS Malcolm Verity investigates the history, ownership and activities of a Victorian company in Cheshire
A TAINTED LAGACY? ... FAWCETT PRESTON & CO LTD (1860 - 1865) - Peter Norris writes about Liverpool foundry’s involvement in the American Civil War.
SKEW ARCH BRIDGES IN MERSETSIDE & BEYOND - Maurice Handley provides a detailed explanation of types of skew arch bridge and a local gazetteer.
THE WILLIS BRANCH RAILWAY - Peter Snow – a history and updated description of an early branch line on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
TRAFFORD MILL - Roy Coppack - the medieval and post-medieval history of a water mill on the River Gowy in Cheshire.
CABLE MAKING AT HELSBY - ORIGINS & EARLY YEARS Malcolm Verity investigates the history, ownership and activities of a Victorian company in Cheshire
MIHS JOURNAL 5
WATCHES, CLOCKS AND POTS - Following the fiftieth anniversary of the Society in 2014, Alan Smith reminisces about the early days of the Society and his experiences whilst working for Liverpool Museum.
THE LANCASHIRE WATCH COMPANY: AN UNREALISED DREAM - Dave Griffiths, formerly at Prescot Museum, contributes a thorough history of a Prescot watch factory.
CHESHIRE'S FORGOTTEN SALT MAKERS: SEA SALT PRODUCTION ON THE WIRRAL - Landscape historian, Anthony Annakin-Smith, writes about a little known early post-medieval sea-salt boiling works in Wirral.
"RICH SEAMS": THE 19th CENTURY MINES INSPECTORS' MAPS OF COAL MINING IN RAINFORD - Maurice Handley analyses coal mining maps, a spin-off from the recent highly successful Rainford Roots community archaeology project.
A MERSEYSIDE MANUFACTURING DYNASTY: ORIGINS & HISTORY OF FRANCIS MORTON & Co LTD - Malcolm Verity investigates the activities of a Victorian Liverpool Ironfounders.
WATCHES, CLOCKS AND POTS - Following the fiftieth anniversary of the Society in 2014, Alan Smith reminisces about the early days of the Society and his experiences whilst working for Liverpool Museum.
THE LANCASHIRE WATCH COMPANY: AN UNREALISED DREAM - Dave Griffiths, formerly at Prescot Museum, contributes a thorough history of a Prescot watch factory.
CHESHIRE'S FORGOTTEN SALT MAKERS: SEA SALT PRODUCTION ON THE WIRRAL - Landscape historian, Anthony Annakin-Smith, writes about a little known early post-medieval sea-salt boiling works in Wirral.
"RICH SEAMS": THE 19th CENTURY MINES INSPECTORS' MAPS OF COAL MINING IN RAINFORD - Maurice Handley analyses coal mining maps, a spin-off from the recent highly successful Rainford Roots community archaeology project.
A MERSEYSIDE MANUFACTURING DYNASTY: ORIGINS & HISTORY OF FRANCIS MORTON & Co LTD - Malcolm Verity investigates the activities of a Victorian Liverpool Ironfounders.
MIHS JOURNAL 4 - Autumn 2014
THE NORTH WESTERN SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY - some early recollections by David Thornton
JOHN HARRIS - A short biography of NWSIAH’s first chairman
GETTING STARTED - The early years of the SocietyAdrian Jarvis, Paul Rees and John Crompton
EDWARD PAGET-TOMLINSON - an appreciation from Adrian Jarvis
INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY - A LIVERPOOL STUDENT'S VIEW by Carol Whittaker
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION by Roy Forshaw
THE CANNINGTON SHAW No 7 BOTTLE SHOP, ST HELENS by David Singleton (Revised by Maurice Handley)
WILLIAM GOSSAGE AND THE WIDNES SOAP INDUSTRY by Peter Reed (Revisited by Malcolm Verity)
WILLIAM GOSSAGE - THE MYSTERY OF THE TWO PORTRAITS by Malcolm Verity
MIHS JOURNAL 3 - April 2014
HENRY MARCUS - LIVERPOOL EXCURSION AGENT by Susan Major - This article on is based upon research done for Susan’s PhD dissertation on two Liverpool heroes, Henry Marcus and Charles Melly.
LIVERPOOL’S VANISHING GASHOLDERS by John Horne - John is an MIHS member and a Chartered Engineer, recently retired after spending much of his career in a senior capacity in the gas industry.
RELICS OF THE STORETON TRAMWAY by Rowan Patel - Originally from Birkenhead, Rowan is a postgraduate student at the University of York with a keen interest in the Industrial Archaeology of the North West.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF GARSTON by Bernard Brett This article was originally published in the NWSIAH Journal of 1987 and is reproduced as a tribute to Bernard, who died in 2012 after being a supporter of NWSIAH and MIHS over very many years.
THE GARSTON BOTTLEWORKS by H B Griffiths - Mr Griffiths is a former Finance Director and Company Secretary of the Garston Bottle Company Ltd.
SOME EARLY NEWCOMEN ENGINES IN THE AREA AROUND PRESCOT by Maurice Handley - Maurice is a member of MIHS and of the Merseyside Archaeology Society and also has a keen interest in geology.
HEWITT & BOOTH - PIPE CLEANER MANUFACTURERS OF WALLASEY by Hilary Hewitt- Hilary is the son of Charles W Hewitt, who with his grandfather founded Hewitt & Booth in 1919.
MIHS JOURNAL 2 - February 2012
POOLEY: ENGINEERS & WEIGHBRIDGE MANUGACTURERS OF LIVERPOOL by Rob Jones - Rob is an MIHS committee member and our Newsletter editor. He Is active In tram restoration In Birkenhead.
BUILDINGS RECORDED ON HILBRE ISLAND by Roy Forshaw - Roy is a MIHS Committee member and is surveying the island to record the historical remains and historic finds.
HARRY FOOTNER -POSSIBLY THE ONLY RAILWAY ENGINEER TO HAVE A FOSSIL NAMED AFTER HIM by Maurice Handley -
Maurice is a member of both MIHS and the Merseyside Archaeology Society and has a keen interest in geology. He has a Diploma in Landscape Interpretation from the University of Liverpool.
WIRRAL POSTCARDS by John Ryan - John is a long-serving member of MIHS with an extensive collection of old postcards, generally with an industrial theme. He has generously loaned some examples from his collection for reproduction here.
MIHS JOURNAL 1 - 2010
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND ITS TIME? THE MANCHESTER & LIVERPOOL LIGHTNING EXPRESS RAILWAY by Adrian Jarvis - Adrian is a retired keeper and curator at National Museums Liverpool and is now based at Liverpool University and has been chairman of MIHS.
GETTING TO WORK: THE RAILWAY AND PORT SUNLIGHT by Graham Gladden - Graham is a retired industrial chemist at Unilever in Port Sunlight.
EARLY INDUSTRIES AND TRADE IN LIVERPOOL AND ENVIRONS 1500-1750 by Christine Longworth - Christine is a retired Curator of modern antiquities at National Museums Liverpool and as well as her consultation heads the group researching on Hilbre Island.
BOURNE’S TUNNEL - RAINHILL’S OTHER SKEW BRIDGE by Maurice Handley - Maurice is a member of the MIHS and the Merseyside Archaeology Society and also has a keen interest in geology.
THE PIONEERING WATERWAY by Peter Keen - Peter is a founder member of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.
REMNANTS OF THE COASTAL SALT REFINERY ON THE RIVERS MERSEY AND DEE by Roy Forshaw - Roy is a Building Surveyor and can be found helping or hindering with his trowel or tape measure on various archaeology projects.
THE NORTH WESTERN SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY - some early recollections by David Thornton
JOHN HARRIS - A short biography of NWSIAH’s first chairman
GETTING STARTED - The early years of the SocietyAdrian Jarvis, Paul Rees and John Crompton
EDWARD PAGET-TOMLINSON - an appreciation from Adrian Jarvis
INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY - A LIVERPOOL STUDENT'S VIEW by Carol Whittaker
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION by Roy Forshaw
THE CANNINGTON SHAW No 7 BOTTLE SHOP, ST HELENS by David Singleton (Revised by Maurice Handley)
WILLIAM GOSSAGE AND THE WIDNES SOAP INDUSTRY by Peter Reed (Revisited by Malcolm Verity)
WILLIAM GOSSAGE - THE MYSTERY OF THE TWO PORTRAITS by Malcolm Verity
MIHS JOURNAL 3 - April 2014
HENRY MARCUS - LIVERPOOL EXCURSION AGENT by Susan Major - This article on is based upon research done for Susan’s PhD dissertation on two Liverpool heroes, Henry Marcus and Charles Melly.
LIVERPOOL’S VANISHING GASHOLDERS by John Horne - John is an MIHS member and a Chartered Engineer, recently retired after spending much of his career in a senior capacity in the gas industry.
RELICS OF THE STORETON TRAMWAY by Rowan Patel - Originally from Birkenhead, Rowan is a postgraduate student at the University of York with a keen interest in the Industrial Archaeology of the North West.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF GARSTON by Bernard Brett This article was originally published in the NWSIAH Journal of 1987 and is reproduced as a tribute to Bernard, who died in 2012 after being a supporter of NWSIAH and MIHS over very many years.
THE GARSTON BOTTLEWORKS by H B Griffiths - Mr Griffiths is a former Finance Director and Company Secretary of the Garston Bottle Company Ltd.
SOME EARLY NEWCOMEN ENGINES IN THE AREA AROUND PRESCOT by Maurice Handley - Maurice is a member of MIHS and of the Merseyside Archaeology Society and also has a keen interest in geology.
HEWITT & BOOTH - PIPE CLEANER MANUFACTURERS OF WALLASEY by Hilary Hewitt- Hilary is the son of Charles W Hewitt, who with his grandfather founded Hewitt & Booth in 1919.
MIHS JOURNAL 2 - February 2012
POOLEY: ENGINEERS & WEIGHBRIDGE MANUGACTURERS OF LIVERPOOL by Rob Jones - Rob is an MIHS committee member and our Newsletter editor. He Is active In tram restoration In Birkenhead.
BUILDINGS RECORDED ON HILBRE ISLAND by Roy Forshaw - Roy is a MIHS Committee member and is surveying the island to record the historical remains and historic finds.
HARRY FOOTNER -POSSIBLY THE ONLY RAILWAY ENGINEER TO HAVE A FOSSIL NAMED AFTER HIM by Maurice Handley -
Maurice is a member of both MIHS and the Merseyside Archaeology Society and has a keen interest in geology. He has a Diploma in Landscape Interpretation from the University of Liverpool.
WIRRAL POSTCARDS by John Ryan - John is a long-serving member of MIHS with an extensive collection of old postcards, generally with an industrial theme. He has generously loaned some examples from his collection for reproduction here.
MIHS JOURNAL 1 - 2010
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND ITS TIME? THE MANCHESTER & LIVERPOOL LIGHTNING EXPRESS RAILWAY by Adrian Jarvis - Adrian is a retired keeper and curator at National Museums Liverpool and is now based at Liverpool University and has been chairman of MIHS.
GETTING TO WORK: THE RAILWAY AND PORT SUNLIGHT by Graham Gladden - Graham is a retired industrial chemist at Unilever in Port Sunlight.
EARLY INDUSTRIES AND TRADE IN LIVERPOOL AND ENVIRONS 1500-1750 by Christine Longworth - Christine is a retired Curator of modern antiquities at National Museums Liverpool and as well as her consultation heads the group researching on Hilbre Island.
BOURNE’S TUNNEL - RAINHILL’S OTHER SKEW BRIDGE by Maurice Handley - Maurice is a member of the MIHS and the Merseyside Archaeology Society and also has a keen interest in geology.
THE PIONEERING WATERWAY by Peter Keen - Peter is a founder member of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.
REMNANTS OF THE COASTAL SALT REFINERY ON THE RIVERS MERSEY AND DEE by Roy Forshaw - Roy is a Building Surveyor and can be found helping or hindering with his trowel or tape measure on various archaeology projects.
