BMC domestic appliance factory, Kirkby Liverpool

[idlewild]

Do any of the forum members recall the factory that was built in the early 1960's, on south boundary road Kirkby industrial park north, by BMC (British Motor Corporation) to manufacture domestic appliances and equipment, firstly under the name of Fisher & Ludlow then Fisher Bendix, it was then taken over by Parkinson Cowan and finally by Thorn Electricals, I have read that for a short time the Alex Moulton bicycle was made there.
Now long gone, with all the other large employers on which was one of the largest industrial estates in europe.

idlewild

[ronturner]

Yes I remember that place but have no idea of its history or demise.
We lived at Lyme Cross and had cousins who lived on the new and somewhat infamous estate at Kirkby.
We used to take the bus along Knowsley Lane, I think it was the St.Helens transport no. 89, to the gates of the industrial estate, then we connected with a tram which took us past the huge ICI plant until we disembarked one or two stops fiurther on for a short walk.
I did not particularly enjoy the visits but loved the tram rides and in the summer youngsters could get a return for a penny. (Old penny)

RT

[johnoakes]

Not the 89 Ron -that operated St helens to Speke via green Dragon Lane and Whiston jointly with Crosville--used it for years when not cycling to the airport.---it passed the fire station near Whiston hospital where you nearly killed me when in your sidecar on that 500 Norton.
Can"t remember the service to Kirkby .
John

[idlewild]

Ron,
Can you recall where the ICI factory was ?

idlewild

[ronturner]

You might remember the ICI factory from when it was Yorkshire Imperial Metals. It might also be known as IMI (Imperial metal industries.) A very large place which might even still be there.

[ghostrider]

I think IMI still has a warehouse over there at the junction with the A580 but not the size it was with the Copper Pot Pub built on part of it and new units built on other parts of the site. The bus from St Helens to Kirkby was numbered the 90 a few years ago.

Andrew

[ronturner]

Not the 89 Ron -that operated St helens to Speke via green Dragon Lane and Whiston jointly with Crosville--used it for years when not cycling to the airport.---it passed the fire station near Whiston hospital where you nearly killed me when in your sidecar on that 500 Norton.

Yes, well we were in the right place. It was an AJS by the way and it was a blighter to do a left turn with the sidecar on if you had any kind of speed on. I remember once putting it through a hedge on the way from Huyton to Gatacre, so after that I got rid of the side car and concentrated real bike riding. Soon afterwards, Janette came into my life. As she was not interested in bikes: only cars and 'planes; the bike went into history..

[johnoakes]

Ah yes I remember--it was an AJS 500 with racing clutch plates--the sidecar fell off the day after hitting the curb just outside the fire station at Whiston--we did a ton on it on the Ford bypass--without sidecar.
I still have nightmares when I recall you turning round and saying look at the clock we are doing a ton.

AND I NEARLY DID.LOL
;D
Happy days loading the newspaper flights----so many years ago.

[liverpoolman1]

Ah yes - Industrial estates, British companies employing British workers manufacturing British goods: must have been pre-Thatcher days.

[maverick]

Ah yes - Industrial estates, British companies employing British workers manufacturing British goods: must have been pre-Thatcher days.

;D ;D ;D