Irlam Soapworks story of success 1978

Cadishead and Irlam Guardian 1978

 

Soapworks story of success.

 

The Soapworks was a thriving industry where hundreds of people were employed to make soaps, liquids and detergents, which were transported to Co-op shops throughout the country. The early years meant a high employment level in the factories. But prosperity meant machines could replace men for greater efficiency, which in turn meant more profits for Co-operative members.

 

The starch ovens and grinding machines which once made starch products are gone, as are the candle-making machines, but the memories remain for works manager Mr Ken Townsend. "I have seen a lot of changes at the factory especially that of machines replacing men, but the friendly atmosphere associated with the Co-operative movement has never changed," he said.

 

Mr Townsend was born into the Co-operative movement as his parents were both employed at the Co-op in Irlam. He has spent 35 years at the Soapworks and began work in the testing laboratories in 1940 gaining promotion to works manager.

 

PROGRESSIVE

 

The Co-operative movement although steeped in political ideals was a very progressive organisation which set high standards of health and safety conditions. Full time welfare nurses and health and safety committees have long been a feature of Co-op factories.

 

During its early years the factory employed a predominantly male workforce - with secretarial and clerical work being done by men and not women. Today, there is an equal number of women in the factory and doing the clerical work once undertaken by men. This trend was set after the Second World War and has continued to the present day.

 

HOLIDAY

 

Local historian Mr James Goodier began his working life at the Soapworks as an office boy and was paid seven shillings a week. His working day began at 8am but he enjoyed the privilege of two weeks holiday with pay.

 

Mr Goodier recolects in his book "Early Days in Irlam Village"; "One of my jobs was to keep an eye on the office clock as it approached 10am. I had to stand outside the office door to await the sound of a mouth whistle coming from a signalman who stood on top of the railway embankment opposite our offices. I would then check the office clock. This was the time-keeping system for the whole works."

 

FRIENDLY

 

The Co-operative movement was very aware of the recreational needs of its workers, and its local football, cricket and hockey teams will be long remembered in the town for providing leisure facilities for the workers.

 

The C.W.S. sports field in Fairhills Road, Irlam was the venue of many friendly matches played by rival teams around the Manchester and Cheshire districts. Sadly, the sports field was sold and recreational facilities died away.

 

Mr Townsend said steps were being taken to restore recreational facilities similar to those sports provided years ago, when the C.W.S. could boast one of the largest recreation clubs in the district.

 

The Co-operative movement has always been proud of the good labour relations, despite its closed shop practice. Although each new member is urged to join an appropriate union there is little union/management friction. The success must partly be due to the "Co-operative Union" - a policy advising body which is in regular contact with all sections of the Co-operative movement.

 

It is not surprising, therefore, that few people leave the works until their retirement. Mr Goodier recalls in the book: "The actual Soapworks building impressed one as a solid structure - the very embodiment of security for many lifetimes... When anyone obtained a job there it was considered they were secure for life."

 

CHANGES

 

The soapworks industry survived the devastating changes wreaked by two World Wars and the post-war economic slumps, when its male workforce was lost to the armed services and women stepped into the jobs once undertaken by the men. But the Soapworks also lost many of its female workers to the Irlam Steelworks, where women "did their bit for King and Country" making munitions for the war.

 

The government encouraged industries like the Soapworks because it produced glycerine as a by-product of soap. The liquid was sent to other factories to make nitro-glycerine for explosives. The post-war years brough headaches of its own for the Society which could no longer find the skilled workers who once produced the company's "luxury goods", nor buy the replacement machinery.

 

HARSH

 

The Soapworks was faced with a harsher reality in 1968 when reorganise or die seemed the only choice. It meant drastically cutting the workforce from 360 to 110; moving into another part of the building, and reducing its products lines to five - washing up liquids, bleach, scouring powder, firelighters and fabric conditioners.

 

Although the factory continued to supply manufactured goods including automatic powders for washing machines; blue washing powders, toilet and household soaps which are distributed to Co-op shops in Irlam and Cadishead.

 

COSTLY

 

The old Soapworks building was also evacuated during the 1968 re-organisation because it became too costly to heat and maintain it. Although the white fronted building is a historical monument to the grest industrial age - it is now being demolished for safety reasons.

 

The severe re-organisation has proved to be a formula for success, and the factory produces two-and-a-half times more than before the cutback.

 

Today, the C.W.S. Soapworks has more than 80 years of experience in dealing with economic and social changes and can look forward to a prosperous future. Although the factory has become geared to maximum efficiency - its profits continue to be shared among the majority rather than the few - and continues to follow the principles laid down by the founders of the Co-operative movement more than 115 years ago.

 

Image: The face of change - the C.W.S. Soapworks building erected in 1895 is slowly being demolished, the end of an era in Irlam.

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