About West Bank

West Bank, Widnes, has been an important River Mersey crossing point for centuries. It is also considered to be the birthplace of the chemical industry, an industry which shaped the very fabric of the community and life in West Bank uniquely. The collection of images on this website captures West Bank in its heyday, from the late nineteenth through to the mid-to-late twentieth century, when trade and industry prospered and life in the community flourished.

There is no doubt that living and working in West Bank was incredibly hard, there were troubled times, treacherous working conditions, smells and smogs from the surrounding chemical plants and little money but the people that lived here were close, caring and had a great sense of fun! Dense housing led to a tightly knit community, which included many immigrant workers who came from all over Europe to West Bank for work. The River Mersey supported industry and trade and the bridges that crossed it brought many people into the heart of West Bank each day. Street parties, processions and parades often filled the terraced streets, the beach and promenade provided plenty of spaces for people to relax and the numerous churches, shops, public houses and at one time even a cinema, meant you didn't need to leave West Bank for anything.

Explore the Interactive Map to find out more about West Bank during these years.