Firewatching

Detail of the west side of the Warrington Transporter Bridge. An interesting feature is the siting of a Second World War firewatcher's shelter on the end. This heavy steel plate structure was installed in order to provide some protection from shrapnel for the firewatchers who were there to protect the nearby factories from incendiary bombs. It will have contained a seat and small shelf with, almost certainly, a telephone. This example appears to be a locally made item rather than the 'Consol' firewatching shelter which was sold for the purpose to a range of businesses.