Images of West Bank [Hardcover]

West Bank in Widnes has a rich and unique social history intrinsically bound to the growth of the chemical industry. It is this heritage which is celebrated in this fascinating compilation of over 400 photographs, all of which have been selected from the digital archive created by the West Bank Heritage Project.

The people, places, buildings and landmarks of West Bank make up this comprehensive reflection of the past from the early days if photography until te redevelopment of the area in the 1970s. The pages of this book depict the joys and hardships that came with living and working in this close-knit community. Real West Bank memories have also been included to accompany the photographs and bring them to life.

The book will not fail to evoke memories for West Bankers and will captivate anyone who is interested in local or social history.

During the first half of the Twentieth Century, West Bank was in its heyday. The Railway Bridge, Transporter Bridge, river and canals enabled trade, industry and travel. Dense back-to-back terraced housing accommodated a diverse community, including migrant workers from all over Europe and this vibrancy and intensity was reflected in the close-knit and thriving community that formed here. There is no doubt that life was incredibly hard, there were troubled times, treacherous working conditions and little money, but despite this, life in the community flourished.

Mersey Road was lined with a vast variety of shops, and was alive with the constant hustle and bustle. The streets were frequently decorated elaborately for celebratory street parties. The river Mersey, and tides, supported a fishing industry and provided places for leisure, from the beach to the promenade which was built 100 years ago. There were at one stage, four churches, a cinema, countless shops, a photographer’s studio, an abundance of public houses and more than anything, a boundless number of families and friends all living in this flourishing community.

West Bank has undergone tremendous changes in its structure and prosperity over the latter half of the Twentieth Century. In 1961, the Transporter Bridge was replaced with a new Road Bridge, which diverted traffic around West Bank instead of through its centre. Most significantly, much of the high density housing was removed in the 1970s which greatly reduced the population. The loss of the local industrial base also compounded this and the community became even more depleted. The community that had thrived here began to fade.

This book is part of the West Bank Heritage Project, founded in 2004, out of a fear that the memories of life as it was in this vibrant community would be lost. There was evidence that many old photographs were being destroyed as families moved on and generations passed away. The vibrancy, diversity and stories of life in this unique and tightly-knit community were in danger of being forgotten forever.

The project set about to collect, conserve and celebrate the heritage of the community. An appeal was launched which called for West Bankers, past and present, to dig deep into their cupboards and attics in search of old photographs. The response was incredible, over 900 images were donated, from which the images in this book have been selected.

In addition, from September 2005 there will also be a ‘West Bank Heritage’ website where more of the images will be accessible. Interviews with old West Bankers were recorded and archive copies of over 30 hours of interviews as well as two themed compilations, are to be donated to local libraries around the region. Finally, a permanent digital archive of the entire collection is to be installed at ‘Catalyst Science Discovery Centre’ in Widnes.

Through these means it is hoped that the memories of West Bank will be preserved and celebrated for future generations.

This book seeks to provide 'snap shots' of West Bank people and places revealing, over the decades, the unique, rich and diverse heritage of this Widnes community. It is the result of a successful Heritage Funded Project to celebrate the past of the people who lived in this close-knit community and worked in the midst of the chemical industry on the banks of the River Mersey.