WARRINGTON’S wire heritage will be unearthed as part of a cultural project thanks to a grant of more than £45,000.

Warrington Borough Council has secured a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to launch ‘The Wire Factory’, a project celebrating the legacy left by the wire industry, such as Rylands.

Based on Battersby Lane, the factory was the biggest producer of wire when it closed in the early 2000s.

The industry dominated the town’s employment structure for more than 100 years in the 18th and 19th centuries, putting the borough at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution.

Warrington Guardian: Former Carrington WireFormer Carrington Wire

Inside the former Rylands Wire factory

This new culture and heritage project will give people new opportunities to tell their stories, and raise awareness of the significance of the industry to Warrington’s identity today.

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for culture, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, said: “It’s great news that we’ve been successful in securing National Lottery funding to deliver this important project.

“Many residents are unaware of our wire heritage and it’s one of Warrington’s stories that could be in danger of being lost.

“This is a really interesting project to help tell that story.

“This part of our heritage still resonates in our town today – from Warrington Wolves being known as The Wire, to Wire FM and even our new Time Square car park, which reflects the wire design so unique to Warrington.

“Through this project, we want to collect some of the fascinating stories of our past and represent them in different ways, be it through artwork, sculptures or new technologies.

“’The Wire Factory’ aims to engage a range of new audiences in Warrington’s heritage, sparking renewed interest in our industrial past amongst communities throughout the borough, and beyond.”

Those involved in the project will focus on engaging people who worked in the wire factories and their families, in order to share and celebrate their stories.

Dementia support groups, schools, colleges and creative practitioners will be involved.

The project will culminate with a special exhibition in the town centre during the Heritage Open Weekends in September.