IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Batherton Close, WIDNES, WA8 7SF

The barge BARMERE is on the lorry at the far set of lights, on the last leg of her journey to Spike Island.

A new hoarding frame no doubt ready to announce an impending retail development [on the former foundry site on which it stands] to the public passing on the A557 Widnes Eastern by-pass. In the distance, the Ditton Junction - Warrington Arpley railway bridge which carries coal trains to and from Fiddler's Ferry power station. The by-pass road is along the course of the Widnes - St Helens railway line which would have passed under the Warrington line where the road does today. The factory in the background [actually just outside the grid square] belongs to Thermphos International B.V. and produces "speciality phosphates" of the highest order.

The former chemical plant closed in 2013 and sits close the new Mersey crossing development. It's demolition began in April 2015 and is expected continue until September due to the asbestos and chemical dangers.

St Marie's RC Church in Lugsdale Road, Widnes is of such special architectural interest, it was listed as a Grade II building by the Secretary of State, weeks before it faced the bulldozers in 2006. The Victoria Society campaigns to save Victorian and Edwardian buildings of architectural importance and the Pugin-designed church has been placed on a national list of 10 endangered buildings.

The former thermPhos factory dominates the Widnes skyline and cuts a dramatic figure as it is carefully pulled down.

Originally opened in 1899 as the town's Poor Relief Hall, after renovation it was reopened in 1990 as the Widnes Community Support Centre. There seems no indication what the present work is turning it into.

View NE, towards Appleton and St Helens. The train is going SW off the ex-LNW line (original St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway and closed to passengers from 18/7/51) and is heading for Spike Island Sidings. The line forking left had been the 'normal' line through Widnes South (ex-LNW) station (closed to passengers 10/9/62) to Ditton Junction and Liverpool (Lime Street), which connected just off here to the right with the line from Manchester (London Road) and Stockport via Warrington (Low Level). Crossing over the bridges in the background are the direct ex-LNW goods line between Carterhouse and West Deviation Junctions - missing Widnes South station. Crossing in parallel with and behind it would be the ex-GC & Midland Joint (not CLC) loop line from Widnes Junction (CLC) through Widnes Central station to Hough Green (CLC). (The 'Direct' CLC main line passes further north through Farnmouth (Widnes) station (renamed Widnes North 5/1/59, plain 'Widnes' 6/5/68) and the loop through Widnes Central was closed on 6/10/64). The locomotive is LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41237 (built 9/49, withdrawn 9/64). Great Chemical Works dominates the area and the train has its products in tank wagons.