Cheshire East Council have shone a light on a sculptor from Bollington.

Hot on the heels of Cheshire Day, March 30, council staff have been diving into the Cheshire Archives with a focus on everything 'Made in Cheshire'.

The county's archive service has chosen a selection of items from its collection that show the variety of products historically manufactured across the county.

Among the discoveries is the work of sculptor Alfred Gatley, from Bollington.

Councillor Jill Rhodes, Cheshire East Council's representative on the Cheshire Archives board, said: "Cheshire has such a rich manufacturing tradition, so it's so fascinating to discover new stories of Cheshire's past and how our archive service has been able to collate such a diverse collection of historic images and stories of our past."

Later this year, two new archive centres will open in Chester and Crewe to provide new facilities for the public to find their story and discover untold stories of Cheshire's people and places.

Alfred Gatley

Alfred Gatley was born at Spring Cottage in Kerridge in 1816.

Growing up beside his family's quarries, Gatley developed an early talent for sculpture and later built a successful career working in marble in Rome, where he spent much of his life and where he died in 1863.

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One of his most recognised works is Echo (1850-1853).

Gatley created at least three versions for different clients - one is currently held at Gawsworth Hall.

Photo of staff at Zan Limited in Wheelock (Credit: CEC)

Made in Cheshire

Other highlights from the archive collection include the inventory attached to the will of Nantwich shoemaker William Hayles.

It gives an idea of how the early 'putting out' system worked, where merchants commissioned designs, took orders, and distributed materials to families who made shoes in their homes. Leather was cut into shapes, stitched into uppers and soles, trimmed, polished, and returned to the merchant ready for market.

There is also a photo of employees at Zan Limited, a Wheelock-based manufacturer once known for producing "everything for cleaning and disinfection."

Among their more unusual products was phosphoric acid, much of it exported to the USA during Prohibition, where it was used in the manufacture of soft fizzy drinks.

Meanwhile, Crewe has been recognised as the original home of Calpol.

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The Calmic Group of Companies moved to Crewe Hall from Lancashire in 1947, with the children's medicine invented there in 1959.

The manufacturing of pharmaceuticals at Crewe Hall ended in 1995 - it is now a hotel.