THE FLAT IRON BUILDING

We've all seen pictures of The Flat Iron Building, situated on 5th Avenue in New York. But did you know that Prescot has its own Flat Iron, and it pre-dates the one in NY by 12 years.  

Built in 1890 by Thomas Dennett it began its life in the watchmaking trade and was used to make bespoke watches for The Lancashire Watch Company. In 1911 this company closed down and the building was eventually bought by Alfred Huckle who started the Prescot Clock & Mechanism Co. Which reportedly produced 30,000 to 40,000 watches between 1911 and 1914. The business branched out into ships’ clocks and compasses, WWI rifle extractors and, later, 3,000 ticket punching machines used in trams.

Prescot Clock and Mechanism Co. closed in 1969 and the three-storey brick building has since been occupied by a number of companies not connected to the watchmaking industry.

The building is in the process of being revamped. Among the restorations is an Atherton Clock face, which will be mounted on the building in keeping with the also restored time ball on the roof, which will descend at key times of the day.

The site itself is steeping history from much earlier. It is believed to be where The Prescot Playhouse was situated. It was built in the mid-1590s, and probably remained in theatrical use until 1609. It was one of the few free-standing theatres in England outside London, and hosted performances by the playing company known as the Earl of Derby's Men, when they were forced out of London by the 1592 plague outbreak. Lord Derby's Men are known to have been performers of some of Shakespears earliest plays.

The higher D rating is to account for the high muggle count in the area.

HIGH MUGGLE AREA...... PLEEEEEAASSEE BE STEALTHY