A NEW book charting the change in Warrington’s role in industry and business has been released.

Warrington At Work: People and Industries Through The Years is penned by heritage manager at Warrington Museum, Janice Hayes.

It is the latest book she has released on the town and its industrial heritage.

It looks at the history of industry in Warrington from its manufacturing heyday in the 19th century to its reinvention as a thriving post-industrial town.

It includes plenty of pictures from some of the most famous names in the town over the past 200 years including Richmonds, Alliance Box Works, Rylands, Monks, Burtonwood Brewery and Tetley Walkers.

A spokesman said: “From the 19th century as a major manufacturing town and centre of wire-making, textiles, tanning, chemical production and brewing through to its designation as a new town in the late 1960s and subsequent development as a thriving business and commercial centre, Warrington has always proudly called itself ‘The Town of Many Industries’ with a varied economy which created one of the great industrial centres of north-west England.

“Working life in the town was very different one hundred years ago.

“Most people worked long hours in badly lit unventilated factories full of dangerous machinery and hazardous chemicals making goods for sale, while today the town’s inhabitants can be found sitting at computer terminals in offices and business parks, building societies and call centres.

“Warrington At Work explores these changes in a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations.

“It looks at the impact that the Industrial Revolution had on the population and the consequences of rapid urbanisation, the changes in the industrial landscape during the Victorian era, the impact of war and the postwar decline of its heavy industries, late 20th century regeneration and Warrington’s reinvention as a confident and thriving post-industrial town with a bright future.”

  •  The book is out now priced £14.99.