BBC One recently screened a programme on 'Heritage at Risk' which featured a St Helens landmark which is protected because of its historical connections with the glass industry.

Producers had selected items from the English Heritage listing of those sites most at risk. In St Helens it was Cannington Shaw bottle shop classed as a scheduled ancient monument and has been highlighted as being of both national and international importance.

St Helens became known in the 1870s as a centre for bottle making thanks to the technique of using tank furnaces which sped up production and led them to export all over the world. John Cannington started the bottle making business in 1866 along with Edwin Cannington and John Shaw. Cannington Shaw employed people at their Sherdley glass works and Nuttall at Ravenhead.

The Lyon family, who were mineral water makers, had taken over the Thatto Heath glasshouse and later took possession of the Peasley Bottle Works. In 1890 they were taken over by Cannington Shaw. By 1892 they employed 1,188 men and women and were described as the largest works of its kind in the world. In 1913 Cannington Shaw amalgamated with five other bottle manufacturers including Nuttalls to form United Glass Bottle Manufacturers Ltd.

Shortly after the number seven bottle making shop fell in to disuse and by 1918 was simply used as a store. It was used as an air raid shelter in World War II and survived a site clearance in 1982.

We have set up a steering group and are working with English Heritage, Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society and others to form a properly constructed group to discuss the way forward.

On Wednesday, August 26 we are hosting two public meetings at Friends Meeting House at 1pm and 3pm and one at 7pm. Refreshments will be available.