WERE the first glass bottles in the area produced at Thatto Heath more than two and a half centuries ago? From an interesting snippet supplied by reader Mike Kerr, this seems a distinct possibility.

Mike, of Daresbury Road, Eccleston, kindly forwards some details on the subject, supplied by his father, and this research shows that a John Heskey built Thatto Heath Glass House way back in 1721.

It stood on what was later to become a school site, just off Dunedin Street.

Forty-six years later, it operated as Orrell, Fosters and Co (Orrell being a Parr mine owner and Foster a local brewing family).

Between 1830 and 1845 the factory was recorded as being the only one in the neighbourhood producing bottles. And in that latter year Francis Dixon & Co took over the works from the West family.

Mike's info shows that the bottle house was advertised for sale in January, 1857, but that there is no evidence that it was ever occupied after that date.

It is, however, known that for the last four years of its life, the Thatto Heath works was run by a Job Henry Lyon who took possesion of the Peasley Bottle Works on leaving Thatto Heath.

THANKS Mike for bringing to light those ancient details concerning the district's proud glass-making heritage.