BICC & Prescot

[stephen nulty]

Another strange story about the refinery..

 

My dad and lots of the other men who worked there would go to The Engine for a pint. As they had spent all morning near the furnaces, they really felt the cold, even when to others it was quite warm. You could go into The Engine on a warm summers day and they would shout at you for leaving the door open cos they were cold!

[sconehead]

I am new to this site but not to life. Although now in Prescot my first half century was up the road in Huyton. However until July 1985 a sound of Prescot punctuated my life, namely the mournful tone of the BICC factory whistle. eIt sounded most working Mondays-Fridays at 0655, 0700, 0730, 0755, 0800, 1230, 1330 and 1700. It was also used on Remembrance Sunday at 1100 and 1102, although the whistle stopped sounding regularly it was used for this occasion until 1989. The building on Bridge Rd where it was sited was along with the rest of the works demolished in the early 1990s. I tried to interest Prescot Museum in it but was met with apathy.

 

I have a suspicion - not a certainty that something resembling a whistle is mounted on the Prysmian ex-Pirelli building on Cross Lane but like the former GWR works whistle it is silent. If this is the whistle I hope Prescot Museum take a bit more interest and ACQUIRE IT.

e

There are one or two things Id like to know from those older than me who could inform m

 

1) How old it is DEFINITELY pre-1955.

2) Use in World War II

3) Was the whistle manually operated or was it attached to a timepiece?

 

If anyone can assist please tell me!

 

Sconehead

 

To correct the above post the GWR whistle was a two-tone one attached to the Swindon Works. The Works is largely demolished like BICC but the building upon which it was mounted remains although the whistle was silenced after the railway works closed on 30th March 1986, nine months after BICC's whistle was silenced. BTW it also sounded twice to bring in the New Years of 1972 and 1977.

 

Sconehead

[gypsygeoff]

The whistle, or as we called it the BI buzzer, was electrically operated.Now I dont know if was used in WW2, as the fire station in Delph Lane used to be the air raid siren in the area.There was also one on Stovies roof too.

I can remember when I was at St Barts school in the early 60's they tested the air raid sirens,for what good they would have been.

 

 

[sconehead]

Thanks Gypsy Geoff. I also remember the siren on the Delph Lane Fire Station . This was used to alert part-time firefighters (Huyton FS had one also) and it was used until 1972 when medical style bleeps were introduced, and not long after the station became full time when absorbed into Merseyside. This muat have caused some disturbance to patients in Whiston Hospital. The siren was moved to the Delph Lane Council Offices and caused a fright on Monday mo rnings when swi tched on and off. The sirens were largely recanimoved in the early 1990s.

 

Another siren which caused panic was that at Rainhill Hospital, which would often sound the full air-raid warning rather than the all-clear used by the fire service. This too succumbed with the hospital closure and since the 1990s the only sirens have been those of the 999 services.

 

Getting back to the BICC I am disappointed by the apathy shown towards the BICC whistle, an important part of the 20th century history of Prescot.

 

Sconehead

[sconehead]

Another aspect of the BICC steam whistle is that long after most such whistles fell silent in the 1960s, it is one of a trio that blew into the mid-1980s. the other two being the BR Swindon works and the ex-Mauretania (1907) whistle used at the GEC factory in Rugby.

 

A similar sounding whistle to the BICC one can be heard in the 1954 Marlon Brando film "On the Waterfront"

 

The BICC whistle could be heard in Page Moss, Croxteth Hall Park, Knowsley south of the A580 the western parts of St Helens and northern parts of Widnes. On occasions it sounded as though it was in my Huyton back garden. IT WAS LOUD!

 

Sconehead

[stephen nulty]

The drift towards discussion of the fire stations has reminded me of the BI's "Works Voluntary Fire Brigade".

 

A team of volunteers trained in rudimentary fire-fighting and first aid skills, they would be working as normal then the tannoy would boom out "Attention please, Attention please, calling the Works Voluntary Fire Brigade". They all had to stop what they were doing and dash off to the office (this was in the Drum Shop, where we had a few volunteers), and the foreman would call through to find out where the fire was and tell them. They then had to leg it off somewhere, whether to fight the fire or to join the crew at a central point, I have no idea. But I wouldn't want to be waiting for them, I can tell you that.

 

[Bryan McCahey]

Do any members recall a BICC (drum?) storeroom manager called Markham Conway? He may also have been known as Tom or Boy Conway. He was my Gt. Grandmother's cousin and lived at Gilbert Road, Whiston. He died about 1963 and is buried in Prescot Churchyard. His father was Thomas Conway and was a well-known local horse breaker who lived on Kemble Street. Thomas Conway (snr) was decapitated in a rail accident (probably suicide) in 1931, by a train which had just left Prescot station, heading for Liverpool. He had accessed the line from somewhere round the back of BICC where there was a primitive sort of level crossing. His son, Markham, had the unpleasant job of identifying his father's body.

[stephen nulty]

Bryan

 

Welcome to the forum, even if it is to share such a sad story!

 

I'm afraid this was long before my time in the Drum Shop - I was there from 1973 til 1977.

 

Have you accessed local newspaper archives at the library (not sure where you live)?

[joe]

I lived in rainhill and remember the BI buzzer when the wind was in the right direction.Alot off my family work there the most recent where joe atherton bill and albert stanley my father in law Arthur halliday worked on the gate at kemble street he used to let albert out to nip over to the pub, and got a bottle as a thank you. My brothers worked for holt lane transport so where very often in loading up. I worked there for a spell, spot weilding just before they moved that part to BI burndy at lea green st Helens I loved working there. My dad worked at Tinlings all his life apart from the war years. He got me a job there after I left school all was going well until I found out my aunty would be my supervisor (no love there) I thanked them for the offer and said no thanks, dad was not best pleased, so I went to work in Pimbletts in St helens. those where the days you could leave one job in the morning and be back in work by dinner time. joe

[potter]

HELLO STEVE,

I have never worked for BI, but wondered if you or anyone remembers some of my relatives who worked there for a number of years.My Father-in-law is Keith Wolff or wolfie as he is known in and around Prescot before emigrating to Spain.The other family member is Leslie Rhodes, both worked in different departments for many years in the B.I. POTTER

[stephen nulty]

Potter

 

I always remember when I worked there (1973 - 1986) that people wpould say, as you have, "Do you know such-and-such who works at the BI" and I used to smile cos there were several thousand people working there.

 

The only real chance of knowing somebody was if they worked in the same department as you. I was in the Drum Shop from 1973 to 1977 then the Computer Dept until 1986. Can't say that I recognise either of your names but perhaps some of the other Prescot people might.

[leschip]

HELLO STEVE,

I have never worked for BI, but wondered if you or anyone remembers some of my relatives who worked there for a number of years.My Father-in-law is Keith Wolff or wolfie as he is known in and around Prescot before emigrating to Spain.The other family member is Leslie Rhodes, both worked in different departments for many years in the B.I. POTTER

Is Leslie Rhodes the father of Keith Rhodes, whose Uncle Austin was Saints Full-back in the 50/60's?

Les

[potter]

Don't know about the Austin reference Les, I'll have to check up on that one.But Les' son is called John or the one I have is.Potter.

[DenisG]

For those who mentioned Holt Lane Transport this link might bring back some memories:

 

http://northwesttrucks.fotopic.net/c1802988.html

 

Reading this topic has brought back many fond memories. My grandfather and two uncles worked at the BICC as did my elder brother until 1973/74. Plus before I was married I lived in Hall lane and at Warrington Road, 4 houses from the Canteen, I was always surrounded by the BI. The memories of the buzzer and the club are very strong. Plus living on Warrington Road meant that between 17:00 to 17:30 we were "prisoners in the house" due to the numbers of workers making their way home. I also remember picking up very small lumps of molten copper from the gutters in Manchester Road, when I lived in Hall Lane until 1959. We believed these came out off the furnace chimney but were probably wrong as it might have caused a few injuries if they had!!

 

Frequented the club during the 70's and 80's until I moved from Prescot in 1987, although did go back a few times until 2002. Not working at the BICC myself did cause problems in that you had to be signed in by a member but managed to do this several times during the year and had some good times there. I remember the food,the cheese omelette and chips were good, and had two very good New Year's Eves there. The club was really popular in the 70's and although this slackened off into the 80's it was still a good night out.

 

Anyone remember the Noiseometer on the wall in front of Scothbarn Lane. It was put there because of complaints from residents in Scothbarn Lane and bands had to quickly scale down the noise when it activated. Used to cause hysterics to those watching.

 

Denis

[tonyn]

It would be interesting to know more about the rôle of the BI in war production during World War Two. This must surely be documented somewhere. Sadly, my parents (who met there during the war) didn't say an awful lot, apart from the odd anecdote. Without wishing to introduce an anti-Scouse element on the borders of Liverpool, my father did say that the Liverpool men who worked for him in the Stores were an absolute shower. My neighbour, who worked for Post Office Telephones before and during the war, made similar observations about Liverpool men who worked for him when he was based in Prescot. Geoff Duke also worked there in his time, but he got a good report, being from St. Helens.

 

The bicc had something to do with operation pluto (pipe line under the ocean)although the prescot bicc isnt mentioned , I have it on good authority that parts of manufacture were assembled in prescot (along side box alley)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pluto

[johnj]

Do any members recall a BICC (drum?) storeroom manager called Markham Conway? He may also have been known as Tom or Boy Conway. He was my Gt. Grandmother's cousin and lived at Gilbert Road, Whiston. He died about 1963 and is buried in Prescot Churchyard. His father was Thomas Conway and was a well-known local horse breaker who lived on Kemble Street. Thomas Conway (snr) was decapitated in a rail accident (probably suicide) in 1931, by a train which had just left Prescot station, heading for Liverpool. He had accessed the line from somewhere round the back of BICC where there was a primitive sort of level crossing. His son, Markham, had the unpleasant job of identifying his father's body.

 

Do any members recall a BICC (drum?) storeroom manager called Markham Conway? He may also have been known as Tom or Boy Conway. He was my Gt. Grandmother's cousin and lived at Gilbert Road, Whiston. He died about 1963 and is buried in Prescot Churchyard. His father was Thomas Conway and was a well-known local horse breaker who lived on Kemble Street. Thomas Conway (snr) was decapitated in a rail accident (probably suicide) in 1931, by a train which had just left Prescot station, heading for Liverpool. He had accessed the line from somewhere round the back of BICC where there was a primitive sort of level crossing. His son, Markham, had the unpleasant job of identifying his father's body.

Markham Conway was married to my grandfathers sister Phyllis Cunliffe in 1933,she had a child by another man within the marriage,Markham could not accept the child so Phyliss had the child live with the Cunliffe family,The child was born in 1937 and lived with the Cunliffe family in Sutton Manor until his early death at around the age of 17yrs, his name was Brian Cunliffe.

Does anyone have any other information on Brian?

thanks johnj

[john64]

does anyone remember my grandad jimmy ashcroft worked at the bicc from the age of 14 till retirement. lived at molyneux drive prescot then cook st whiston. thanks john.

[boblyn]

I used to live down the road from the BI near St Lukes and when I was very much younger used to walk up Kingsway and along Manchester Road and used to love watching the activity at the rear of the foundry with the little railway which was moving supplies and logs around. there was also a 'big' railway which also ran around the area and I used to realy enjoy watching the big engine shunting wagons along the side of the foundry towards Bridge Road and into the other end of the foundry. Just further up Bridge Road was another item that facinated me then and that was the wagon tipper. This used to have coal wagons shunted into it and the wagons would be lifted up to the top and the coal would be tipped out. In the early '60's I spent many an hour in the school holidays around the BI.

[stephen nulty]

Boblyn

 

Yes, it was great to watch the activity around the foundry. Do you remember the huge walls of blue flame that you could see when the doors were open? You must have walked past our house (52 Kingsway) on your way up there.

 

Almost seemed like a natural progression for me to start work there when I left school in 1973 and went to the Drum Shop!

[boblyn]

Hi Stephen,

 

Yes I most certainly do remember the blue flames from the furnace and was so disappointed when I went up there and the doors were closed. When I left school I want for an interview for a job there but I never was much good at interviews and needless to say never got a job there and instead ended up down the pit at first Cronton then finished up at Bold.

 

I vaguely remember your name as I am a couple of years older than you but we are about the same era. I have had to look at Google maps to see where abouts 52 Kingsway was as I used to know Jimmy Brerton who lived on Kingsway just the other side of Lathum Close and on the opposite side. I remember there was Jimmy, a younger brother Tommy and Marie I'm not too sure of any others but they did have a much younger brother that was tragically killed close to the house. Not too sure of the exact details but I heard that he was on his bike and fell into the road. I do not want to put here what I was told happened but needless to say he died, so tragic and so so young.

 

The rumble of the Holt Lane Transport lorries with the huge wooden cable drums up and down Kingsway and Shaw Lane is a strong memory that remains with me as I went to St Lukes and it could be quite dangerous crossing that road. No health and safety rules with pelican crossings and that them days!

[leschip]

Boblyn, I lived at 92 Kingsway 1949-1959. The fumes from the BCR meant that residents from this area could smoke Capstan Full Strength with impunity.

[stephen nulty]

Yes, I remember the Breretons and the young lad's tragic accident.

 

Our house was (is) three doors your side of Fazackerley Road. My brother still lives there, though I moved out in 1979

[boblyn]

Stephen,

Just before me then as I moved out when I got married in 1980 and moved up to Southport as my wife, comming from Scarisbrick, worked there and I was a service engineer and within reason could live anywhere close to my area of operation. funny isn't it, I moved up to Southport and now work in Halewood at JLR (Fords).

 

Leschip,

Know what you mean about the fumes but when you left I was only 5 years old!

[marsupial]

I remember climbing on to the roof to watch the BICC whistle go off when it was run by steam,it almost blew my head off.

After the steam plant was shut down it was run on compressed air but I don't think it sounded the same.

[HarryM]

My brother-in-law was shift manager at the B.C.R. !  Has was Leonard George Uttley. I don't suppose anybody would remember him ?  He lives in Ruthin now.