EVERY Warrington historian knows much about the shipbuilding that took place in the town - but perhaps not so much about the thriving industry that was carried on along the waterways within the borders of the old county of Cheshire.

After many years of research, Antony J. Barratt has now come up with a definitive history, Cheshire Shipyards, which provides the reader with a wealth of information and pictures that tell a truly fascinating story.

In looking at the subject in a county wide context, the name of Cammell Laird of Birkenhead will obviously be the first to spring to mind. But along the Mersey also in days gone by there were smaller but important yards at Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and Widnes along with those established in Warrington, Sankey Bridges and Fiddlers Ferry.

Similarly, building took place along the Dee at Chester, Neston and Parkgate as well as in Saltney just across the border with Wales. Significant building also took place in yards along the Weaver at Frodsham, Northwich and Winsford.

Most of these smaller operations were self-generated by industrial and commercial people who needed boats to transport their goods. The principal yard in Warrington was, of course, at Bank Quay.

It was here that the Tayleur, then the largest sailing ship to be built in this country, was completed in 1853. On her maiden voyage to Australia, with 652 people aboard, heavy storms were encountered in the Irish Sea and the vessel went down, with the loss of 380 lives.

Changes in the pattern of river channels and a fall-off in demand for craft led to the closure of the Bank Quay yard soon afterwards in 1860.

Among those building ships at Sankey Bridges were the long-established business of Clare and Ridgway - for more than 120 years. Their Eustace Carey jigger flat was still being used as a barge up until 1965 before beaching off Spike Island. In the 250 years up until 1971, more than 200 were craft were built along the Weaver.

Prominent among the builders who did not survive into the 20th century were the Okell family who were located close to what is now Hayhurst Bridge for 80n years and the Gibson family who operated the Witton Dockyard for almost as long. Antony Barratt was born in Northwich and attended Sir John Deane's Grammar School - which was situated close to the Isaac Pimblott and W.J. Yarwood yards which came to dominate construction in Mid-Cheshire.

At Winsford, after the establishment of the Salt Union Company, there were six yards which were eventually consolidated into the Deakin yard. When, in the 1960s, he saw ships being built there on a daily basis he didn't realise he was witnessing the end of an era.

His labour of love accordingly takes us back to those days and beyond. It is a beautiful and fascinating book.

Cheshire Shipyards by Antony J. Barratt is published in softback by Bernard McCall of 400, Nore Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8EZ, at £7.50 including post and packing.