Peerless refinary, Bootle
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Under construction, The Peerless Bootle almost near to completion, I'm guessing this is early 1950's. Dunningsbridge Road looks quiet. The Peerless employed many thousands of local people during it's existance.
Born in Bootle 1960 lived on Bailey Drive then the old roan.
if he tells you that, he might have to do you in,,,Joycen60 wrote:Where are you getting these great photos from?
- Dan
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Found this from November 11 2016 Gazette.
There are some well known Merseyside businesses in that list.
Liverpool Central Oil (always referred to as LCO) on Oriel Street, off Vauxhall Road.
The Peerless. I always associate the Vernon Young name (Southport family) with the Peerless.
Brittania Lard in Birkenhead.
Founded November 14 1921.
Final accounts filed September 1996.
Ad from 1976.
Regards
Dan
There are some well known Merseyside businesses in that list.
Liverpool Central Oil (always referred to as LCO) on Oriel Street, off Vauxhall Road.
The Peerless. I always associate the Vernon Young name (Southport family) with the Peerless.
Brittania Lard in Birkenhead.
Founded November 14 1921.
Final accounts filed September 1996.
Ad from 1976.
Regards
Dan
- fatboyjoe90
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- Location: merseyside
In the early 1980s, I used to go into the Peerless with my wagon and load up with frying fat and cooking oils, and take it all over the country and the cash was good in those days.
Cheers Joe.
- fatboyjoe90
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- Location: merseyside
Hiya Henry, that rings a bell with me, do you have anymore info on it?
Cheers Joe.
- Dan
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I can't find a reference on the net.
I think the accident occurred when I was working at Bibby's. Early to mid 80s.
The man was reported missing at the end of his shift.
The site was searched, his home address was checked, all without success.
His last movements were traced.
It was thought he had gone up on top of the storage tanks. A lot of the tanks were sampled from the top in those days.
One of the tanks was found with an open manhole cover.
The tank was drained and the body was found.
Because of the low density, you can't float in oil- you just sink to the bottom.
I'm sure someone will know his name.
Regards
Dan
I think the accident occurred when I was working at Bibby's. Early to mid 80s.
The man was reported missing at the end of his shift.
The site was searched, his home address was checked, all without success.
His last movements were traced.
It was thought he had gone up on top of the storage tanks. A lot of the tanks were sampled from the top in those days.
One of the tanks was found with an open manhole cover.
The tank was drained and the body was found.
Because of the low density, you can't float in oil- you just sink to the bottom.
I'm sure someone will know his name.
Regards
Dan
- filsgreen
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Walking along Dunningsbridge Road to Scotts at 5 AM was hell in the 70s. Peerless used to emit an acrid smelling smoke, which use to stay in the back of your throat. The smell of fresh bread from Scott's was always welcome. Everytime I smell Jacob's, it always takes me back to those days.
- Dan
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- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:24 pm
The odours coming from the Peerless would have been composed of short chain carboxlic acids (butyric, caproic, caprylic and capric)
Butyric acid smells of rancid butter.
Caper is Latin for goat. So the other three are variations of the smell of goat.
Mixed into this heady aroma would be the volatiles from the various types of fish oil that was processed there.
So not just the smell of fish, but the concentrated smell of the off- odours form the deterioration of the fish oil that occurs during extraction and transit.
Regards
Dan
Butyric acid smells of rancid butter.
Caper is Latin for goat. So the other three are variations of the smell of goat.
Mixed into this heady aroma would be the volatiles from the various types of fish oil that was processed there.
So not just the smell of fish, but the concentrated smell of the off- odours form the deterioration of the fish oil that occurs during extraction and transit.
Regards
Dan
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My dad actually helped build the new factory in the 50's
He was a bricklayer
All the facade was red brick
I believe the guy that died was named Tommy Long
Someone told me that so can't say for sure
When I was a young lad I used to ride the 28 bus into liverpool with Tommy and Norman Gwyther
Each morning
When I was courting my wife in 67 we were at the Hare and Hounds in the lounge when in walked Tommy,Penno(Pennington) and Clucas
They proceeded to loudly fart the entire time they were there.
Still laugh about it
Now live in white Rock BC
Bootle Grammar Buck
Dennis Cain
He was a bricklayer
All the facade was red brick
I believe the guy that died was named Tommy Long
Someone told me that so can't say for sure
When I was a young lad I used to ride the 28 bus into liverpool with Tommy and Norman Gwyther
Each morning
When I was courting my wife in 67 we were at the Hare and Hounds in the lounge when in walked Tommy,Penno(Pennington) and Clucas
They proceeded to loudly fart the entire time they were there.
Still laugh about it
Now live in white Rock BC
Bootle Grammar Buck
Dennis Cain
- fatboyjoe90
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- Location: merseyside
Hiya Dennis did you used live on Herford Drive?
Cheers Joe.
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My Mother use to work in the factory 60’s 70’s used to mind my sister’s until she was home, my Mother’s Anne was Pat McHenry lived in William Morris Ave
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I did my apprenticeship as a maintenance fitter at Peerless from 76 to 80, most of my family worked there at sometime or other, including my dad my mother my uncle my granddad and my great granddad.
The firm originated in Shropshire and my great granddad was the chief engineer there, until they relocated to Liverpool and my great granddad moved with them to the plant based in Cheapside, then in the 50's the new plant opened on Dunningsbridge.
My dad was an electrician there and he got me the job, it was a great place to work (when you got used to the smell).
It was in two parts, the refinery where the oil was refined and the factory where the finished product was wrapped and packed, that's where all the women worked packing margarine into boxes, Freshfield margarine, anyone remember that? and boxing the frying fats.
I remember Tommy Long well, he was a big ox of a man and from what I can gather he was leaning into one of the vats which contained, I think it was palm oil, and he fell inside, as someone has said you would open the hatch at the top and you had a metal cup on a long rod to take a sample, terrible accident to a really nice man but it wasn't the first time that it had happened
That said I have many happy memories of working there and made some great friends
The firm originated in Shropshire and my great granddad was the chief engineer there, until they relocated to Liverpool and my great granddad moved with them to the plant based in Cheapside, then in the 50's the new plant opened on Dunningsbridge.
My dad was an electrician there and he got me the job, it was a great place to work (when you got used to the smell).
It was in two parts, the refinery where the oil was refined and the factory where the finished product was wrapped and packed, that's where all the women worked packing margarine into boxes, Freshfield margarine, anyone remember that? and boxing the frying fats.
I remember Tommy Long well, he was a big ox of a man and from what I can gather he was leaning into one of the vats which contained, I think it was palm oil, and he fell inside, as someone has said you would open the hatch at the top and you had a metal cup on a long rod to take a sample, terrible accident to a really nice man but it wasn't the first time that it had happened
That said I have many happy memories of working there and made some great friends
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Roy, I have found your Peerless posts interesting. Throughout 1966, I drove vans for W.H.Smith Transport who were part of
W.H.Smith newsagents who are still operating in the U,K. Their vans were on contract to the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo,
and their depot was in Leeds Street in Liverpool. Very often, some of the Peerless Scammell tanker lorries would be seen
in Smiths at Leeds Street for maintainence and oil change. You mentioned Peerless being at Cheapside in earlier days,
which is just a stonesthrow from Smiths at Leeds Street. Are you aware of any pictures of the Peerless tanker lorries ?
Cheers, Ray.
W.H.Smith newsagents who are still operating in the U,K. Their vans were on contract to the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo,
and their depot was in Leeds Street in Liverpool. Very often, some of the Peerless Scammell tanker lorries would be seen
in Smiths at Leeds Street for maintainence and oil change. You mentioned Peerless being at Cheapside in earlier days,
which is just a stonesthrow from Smiths at Leeds Street. Are you aware of any pictures of the Peerless tanker lorries ?
Cheers, Ray.
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I served my apprenticeship as a pipe fitter at Liverpool Central Oil, I was there from 1970 until it closed in 1983. I did some work at the Peerless refinery in the late seventies. There was some sort of business connection between LCO, Peerless and Bibbys.
- Dan
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- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 6:24 pm
Removed photobucket logo.
rivermersey wrote: ↑Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:57 am
Under construction, The Peerless Bootle almost near to completion, I'm guessing this is early 1950's. Dunningsbridge Road looks quiet. The Peerless employed many thousands of local people during it's existance.