IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Watery Lane, WORCESTER, WR2 5AR

The Honda Garage in St John's in Worcester, viewed from Watery Lane.

At least part owned latterly by Kays. Now for redevelopment for residential purposes. All likely to be lost, including a rather plain chimney.

Formerly part of a garage premises and former MOT testing station. Since the photograph was taken in August 2013, this building has been demolished and the site is now used by a Toyota car dealership.

VW Lister car sales in St John's in Worcester, viewed here from Watery Lane.

The former Cinderella Shoe Works (J.F. Willis) on Watery Lane in St Johns in Worcester. No longer a factory and now converted into residential apartments.

This excellent frontage has been conserved, renovated and converted to apartments. The chimney and sheds behind have been demolished.

Worcester at one time had a thriving boot and shoe manufacturing industry. One of the largest firms in Victorian times was run by Henry Willis, who was joined by his brother John in 1860. The name Cinderella was an early example of a brand name. In 1914, by which time Henry had died, his brother moved production from their factory in College Street to this new factory in Watery Lane. It was designed by Brown and Mayor of Northampton, another centre of the shoe industry, so they probably had previous experience in this field. Unfortunately the business declined and went through some changes of ownership. In its last years it was owned by and manufacturing footwear for Great Universal Stores, the mail order catalogue firm. This ceased in around 1976. Subsequently the premises were used by Kays & Morses, both part of GUS in connection with the mail order business. By 2005 the premises were no longer used. It was acquired by Barratts, the housing developers, and they retained the front part and converted it into apartments known as Cinderella Court. The extensive rear of the former factory was demolished and houses built on the site, the main access to which is from Bransford Road. When this photograph was taken in August 2013, there were apartments still available. Image

The former Cinderella Shoe Works of J.F. Willis Ltd, built by Brown & Mayor, 1914. Now flats. More info here Image

The front part of the former Cinderella Shoe Works of J.F. Willis Ltd has now been converted into residential apartments. See:- Image

Watery Lane, St Johns, Worcester. Looks like this is not going to be around much longer - glad I made the effort on Xmas day.