An iconic glassworks closed its doors for the final time last week.
Pilkington Glassworks has been a staple of St Helens industry since it began operating in 1826. The glass trade brought countless jobs to the town and went a great way towards boosting the area's economy throughout the 19th and 20th century. Employing primarily local workers helped fund St Helens' rapid growth- as the town's population rocketed from 7,570 in 1801, to around 84,000 in 1900.
The growth was not indefinite however, with falling profits meaning the Cowley Hill facility was forced to close in 2013, and it was announced last year that the Alexandra Works on Borough Road would close its doors at the end of 2021. The 2013 closure resulted in the loss of 140 jobs, while Alexandra Works closed its doors for the last time just last week, leaving around 90 people out of work, or with the option to transfer to a different works.
