Report - Pilkington Sandwash - St Helens - Sept 19

[Bikin Glynn]

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Been done many times this one but its awfully photogenic, the last report I can find is @Shaun here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/pilkington-glass-sandwash-plant-st-helens-august-2020.126983/

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St. Helens Crown Glass Company was formed in 1826 by John William Bell with capital raised from three wealthy families who lived in the area.

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The Pilkington Brothers started this process of extracting sand deposits at Rainford in 1880, The site is still filled with old machinery including a sketchy railway bridge, watch/lighting towers and crushing machines from when the plant finally closed in the late 1960's.

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The plant was used for processing sand destined for the Pilkington glassmaking factories in St Helens. Its function was to produce material of consistent quality, which meant getting rid of oversized or undersized particles, blending different batches, and washing off surface-bound iron impurities which would otherwise make the glass too green. The sand itself came from various nearby sandpits on the Lancashire plain. The plant closed sometime during the 60s.

Thanks for looking


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[mookster]

Looks like the roof has almost completely gone now!

 

[KPUrban_]

Nicely done.

 

[Shaun]

lovely little place isnt it!

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Looks like the roof has almost completely gone now!

Yep certainly was. Im not sure "where" it had gone though as there were no sheets laying in or around the building!

Nicely done.

Cheers

lovely little place isnt it!

Yeah mate got some great drone pics from here too

 

[Mikeymutt]

It does look a photogenic place. I use to live in St Helens before I moved to Norfolk. My mum left school to work for Pilks. The company is a fraction of the size it use to be but they still own a lot of stuff I think and land.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Lovely angles there, and the b & w is a really nice contrast.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

It does look a photogenic place. I use to live in St Helens before I moved to Norfolk. My mum left school to work for Pilks. The company is a fraction of the size it use to be but they still own a lot of stuff I think and land.

yeah they are still one of the biggest producers, at lot of the balcony glass we use is made by them

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Lovely angles there, and the b & w is a really nice contrast.

Thanks Jane I always try to mix it up a bit

 

[HughieD]

Perfectly derped that. Nicely photographed mate...

 

[Down and beyond]

I am like in this very nice mate !!

 

[MK83]

Great pics. looks really photogenic with nature taking back over. It's right on my doorstep this but never got round to it. Wonder what state it's in now.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Great pics. looks really photogenic with nature taking back over. It's right on my doorstep this but never got round to it. Wonder what state it's in now.

Doubt it's changed much tnh

 

[Jane Doe]

Very nice , lovely set of photos

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Very nice , lovely set of photos

Thanks Jane