u3a

Chester

Industrial Heritage

Status:Active, open to new members
Leader:
When: Monthly on Thursdays
3rd Thursday
Venue: Caldy Valley Car Park

Visits are concerned with transport and industry past and present and may involve walking up to 4 miles. Members take turns to organise visits and circulate details by email a week beforehand.

You will need walking shoes / boots, clothing suitable for the weather, ICE card (In Case of Emergency), small personal first aid kit. Lunch is BYO or in café. We have space for one or two new members.

Industrial Heritage, report by Margaret Hodson and Ian Lawrence in the January issue of Chester Times

Visit to the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum at Widnes

The visit started with a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Diana Leitch.  We learned about the history of soap making  and how it grew into an industry on the banks of the River Mersey with access to the necessary raw materials.  Runcorn and Widnes grew from rural hamlets to towns as many people were attracted to working in the factories. Some of the work was dangerous such as shovelling alkali into barrels with no protective clothing. All the employees could do was to use rags and paper to cover their nose and mouth and seal gaps in their clothing.

Fiddlers Ferry Power Station from the Observatory Tower

At the top of the tower is the Observatory Gallery which affords panoramic views of the River Mersey and The Manchester Ship Canal  with the two bridges and Spike Island. The interactive gallery is a great favourite with children and adults alike. An important aim of the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre is to develop an interest in science so that children will become the scientists of the future.