Dramatic video footage shows historic Southport factories being flattened

Dramatic video footage shows a digger demolishing the last of the factory buildings at an historic site in Southport. 

Vulcan motors (1906), Brockhouse (1937), Philips, Mullards and Dorman Smith are among names which once occupied the site on Rufford Road in Crossens, with thousands of people once working there in its heyday. 

But as manufacturing has declined across the UK the site has gradually emptied, with just a handful of businesses such as the Southport Star Fitness Studio and amateur boxing club still left. 

A fleet of diggers has been on site during the Coronavirus lockdown to continue clearing the remaining buildings. 

And now video footage from Debbie Rimmer shows machines taking down the last bricks of a huge part of Southport’s heritage. 

She said: “The last building being flattened, Southport history gone forever.”

Contractors working for Elan Homes Ltd are clearing the land ahead of building 157 two, three or four bedroom homes in addition to 6,000 square metres of new public open space. Work is expected to be completed within the next two years.

Speaking on the Stand Up For Southport Facebook group, Gill Sperrin said: “It will all look so much better when the new houses are built! The site is so massive and plans look amazing!”

Dot Vickers said: “Jimmy, my dad, worked here at Mullards back in the day. They used to have great Christmas parties for us children of employees.”

Claire Branchett said: “We lived in Crossens, remember the red dust everywhere.”

Christine Stokes said: “Oh I worked at Dorma Smith loved it was happy days.”

Helen Makin said: “Quite sad to see it going….. Been taking photos over the last couple of months….. Amazing how big the site is.”

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