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Hindley Foundry Company.

31 Comments

Hindley Foundry Company.
Hindley Foundry Company.
Photo: Thomas Jackson
Views: 4,725
Item #: 14809
I was taking some pictures around Hindley in 1986 and was standing next to St Peter,s Church wall when I first noticed the chimney.I was born in Hindley in 1952 and had never seen the chimney before.The ford capri gear and the van are parked in First Avenue and the foundry was off on the right into Foundry Street ( see second picture).In the Hindley Directory for 1925 the proprietor of the foundry was John Critchley and looked to be a very prosperous works.

Comment by: dave johnson on 14th May 2010 at 18:24

Thomas I think you'll find the ford capri is a vauxhall?

Comment by: Bob on 14th May 2010 at 20:59

I think you'll find it's a Toyota

Comment by: davey on 14th May 2010 at 22:09

I think your right bob.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 15th May 2010 at 08:46

Where is the 'second picture' ou mention, please?

Comment by: Eric Turner on 15th May 2010 at 15:34

The house to the right of the Ford -Vauxhall-Toyota is where a mate of mine lived. Frank Burgess, the son of local Midwife, Nurse Burgess. Old Walter?from George Street, had an ancient motor -bike & sidecar, worked at the Foundry and he cast alloy badges for Hindley motor Cycle Club. Frank Burgess used to race for this Club.He finished up as the Armaments officer in the Quatari Air Force in the 1970's. E.T.

Comment by: Maurice Tyrer on 15th May 2010 at 17:43

I was born in the Avenue and I remember the foundry,but I don't know what was made there,at the bottom of the Ave, near where the car is there was a man whose name I think was Burgess who I believe used to ride in the TT races.

Comment by: Thomas Jackson on 15th May 2010 at 20:48

Cant you tell i dont drive.??. But it does look like a car Del boy would drive.The second pic is on its way ive had trouble uploading it,be patience.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 16th May 2010 at 11:44

The car is a Datsun 240k with a vinyl roof, launched in the 1970s. The van is a Bedford HA launched in the 1960s.

Comment by: Bob on 16th May 2010 at 20:18

Not quite a cigar for you Colin. It is a Datsun, but it's a Laurel 200L which was the luxury model of it's day.
Jap cars, they all look the same from a distance.

Comment by: Fred (ex car mech) on 17th May 2010 at 07:59

Colin and Bob your both wrong... it's a Ford Cortina GXL, from 1971-1978.

Although, it looks like a Datson 240-k. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Comment by: halsall on 17th May 2010 at 11:50

hi Thomas, it was lovely to see the picture of Hindley Foundry. My dad used to work here with Walter, i remember the bike and side car. even had a ride in it once. I used to go and take my dad his dinner when i was off school i must have been about 10 thats 40 odd years ago! oh dear. My dad was James and he died in 1974. thanks for the memories Thomas.

Comment by: Bob on 17th May 2010 at 13:20

Now sure what cars you worked on Fred but there is no way that's a Cortina, they never had double headlights.

Do your research next time.

Comment by: Thomas Jackson on 17th May 2010 at 14:54

Your welcome halsall its surprising how a picture stirs the memory !! It makes no difference what ever the make of car is parked in First Avenue but im sure someone will put us right eventually and the ownr might pop in some day .

Comment by: Eric Turner on 17th May 2010 at 15:24

Walter Gerrard was the guy who had the ancient combination, he inherited it from his Father who I think also worked at the Foundry. Frank Burgess, who lived in the house, that was his garage behind the Car,did race for Hindley Motor Cycle & Light Car Club, Arnold Ashton from the end of Bickershaw Lane was his mechanic when he rode in the Isle of Man, both at Alrewas and the Main events. Frank was also in the Army cadets in Hindley with me during the War and I knew him and his Wife Irene Entwistle very well. E.T.

Comment by: Eric Turner on 17th May 2010 at 16:24

When I said, Walter Gerrard made badges for Hindley M.C& LCC. I had forgotten that the badge is already on W.W.Album. If you go on Assorted, then badges, look on the last page, I sent it in with a Wigan Auto Club badge. E.T.

Comment by: MALC LONGSHAW on 17th May 2010 at 17:56

Sorry Bob, Ford DID make a double headlight Cortina, the GLX, I had one. It had the 2 Litre OHV crosflow engine and I bought it secondhand around 1976. A good car. The car in the photo is for me a Datsun 240.

Comment by: Alex on 17th May 2010 at 18:57

Yes spot on Malc, the good old Cortina mk3, lovely car.

Comment by: Fred (ex car mech) on 18th May 2010 at 07:26

Some models of The Cortina mk3 had twin headlights.

Bob...you thought it was a TOYOTA... your a million miles away! its a DATSUN 240.

Comment by: Bob on 18th May 2010 at 17:06

http://members.fortunecity.com/misnis/images/C130MGV4.jpg
1977 Laurel 200L. Same wheel trims, same indicator on front wing,same front bumper even

Comment by: Fred (ex car mech) on 18th May 2010 at 18:42

The Laurel c130 or as you say 200L, was launched in 1972-1977, they never had mirrors fitted to the doors like the 240k, the Laurels had o/s n/s wing mirrors.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 18th May 2010 at 19:41

Don't you love the days when you could tell one make of car from another? All computer-generated clones, these days... but it's a tradition that goes back a while.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 19th May 2010 at 09:50

The Datsun Laurel and the 240K look identical, especially the early models. Fred, the car in the photo is around P reg 1976-77, so it's around 10years old at that time. The mirrors could have been changed from the wings to the doors. Some makes of the Cortina MK3 did have twin headlights, but not the GLX as you and Malc stated, it was the XL model. The Cortina range never had front wing indicators, never had quarter light windows in the rear doors. So the Cortina can be ruled out.
Bob has more idea than you fellows, it could well be a early Datsun Laurel. The 240s and the Laurels look very much the same from a distance. So I can understand why your an ex car mech Fred, you serviced the wrong cars
your boss give you to do.

Comment by: dave johnson on 19th May 2010 at 20:51

Not sure if it's a Victor or a Ventora but it is definitely a VAUXHALL, and I'm not a mechanic.

Comment by: Bob on 19th May 2010 at 21:12

http://www.mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B31417.jpg
This hasn't got any mirrors on at all Fred
Datsun 240K

Comment by: Ian Fishburn on 19th May 2010 at 21:18

Early Vauxhall's did'nt have front wing indicators and door mirrors... it is a Datsun Laurel / 240k, trust me.
Bob & Colin are right. That car mech is way off target.

Comment by: Colin Barnes on 4th July 2010 at 12:14

In't years up to it shuttin,Foundry was managed by Bob Shaw.Little Walter used to bring blanks that had blow holes in them to Stephensons in Coniston Road (Webb Street)for welding and grinding.I used to do that job being that i was the apprentise.Walter lived in George Street he kept his bike in an out building up side o Cowsers shop.

Comment by: Kenee on 20th March 2011 at 12:59

The car is a Laurel 200L

Bob gets first prize seconded by Ian. There is some similarity to a 240K Skyline but the radiator grille is different as is the bodyline. There are photos available for reference, Bob even put one on for you. I have owned both these cars in the past, they are nothing like a Cortina Mk111 or a Victor, which I have also owned and which you can also look up photo/images.

Dave Johnson get your eyes tested, Fred I hope you are retired.

Comment by: Roddy on 2nd July 2012 at 00:04

Just came across this discussion, just wanted to say that i own one of these beautiful cars and the car is 100% a Datsun Laurel 200L, (C130 model) ... Most came with mirrors on the front wings but there were ones with the mirrors on the doors. The headlamp surrounds on this car are also unique to the C130 model, no other Datsun had them.

Comment by: JOHN BAILEY on 3rd December 2012 at 19:14

Sorry guys your all wrong ,its a Cortina Mk3 2000E.twin choke webber.

Comment by: Kenee on 18th July 2015 at 09:50

I can understand people mistaking this car for a Cortina, if they have VERY bad eyesight.
The 200L had twin SU carbs, not that you can see them.

Comment by: Thomas Jackson on 23rd February 2021 at 13:53

Is "hallsall", still about ?. A possible relative is looking for you. Cheers Thomas.

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