Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's

Can anyone tell me anthing of the history of these companies and what was on the land before the factory?

Has anyone got any stories of working there?

When the new building was built in the 80s/90's everyone said 'what a monsterosity' and 'how did they get permision to build THAT' but the further away from it you got the more invisible it got.

So, I looked on an Ordanance Survey map of the area and discovered that the land there was the lowest point for miles around.

Sheila

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

I used to live near it.

I recall when it was built, they wanted the sign on the outside higher up and weren't allowed to.

As a planning permission 'sweetener' to the council they said they would provide lots of jobs for locals. They actually transported much of their workforce in on buses from the Burnley area, and lately I heard that eastern europeans are preferred.

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

This may help:-

Father Ted - On Holiday - YouTube

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

I remember express gifts being built when i was a kid, my grandad worked at what used to be Arnolds...but i always knew it as JOSEPH Arnolds

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Sorry - Your right - I should have put 'Joseph.'

Wallace is the coach firm, isn't it. Silly me.

Sheila

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Lol i did wonder

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

The coach company that supplied several buses to ship in their workforce was Fraser Eagle. They must have spent quite a lot doing that, so shares in Wallace Arnold may well have been considered:rolleyes:

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Ya had me going for a minute Sheila, didn't think Wigan Airways ever had a depot around this neck of the woods:D

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

did findel stores have any thing to do with joseph arnolds, i seem to remember a sister company being in nelson and coaches running from there to accrington with workers in them,

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

I have it on good authority that Express Gifts was built on a base of pure evil, rather than land.

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Tell us more shaker tell us more:eek:

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Findel Stores is part as Fine Art Development the company who took over Joseph Arnolds
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...urWWCbETnCzBmw

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

So much for the planning consent sweetener of jobs for locals:rolleyes:

The locals who did get taken on didn't stay long unless they were desperate.

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Remember all the furore there was about that massive Wall, people saying they didn't keep to the plans, seem to think they planted some trees to make it more easy on the eye

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

wasn't Hameldon Studios on Marlborough Road not part of Joseph Arnolds at one time? they used to make cards there

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

There is a small estate of new built houses at the top of Barnes St.
They had a view of sorts at one time. The 'wall' knocked thousands of their value.

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Just after having my second child in 1982, I didn't go back working full time for about 5 years. I did a Saturday job for a local estate agents.

Amongst my duties was to work at some new build bungalows that were being sold behind this building (wasn't there then). Did quite well. Saw later that there was lots of complaints about the Express building (who can blame them), expressing their anger at the estate agent for not letting them know about these plans... I wasn't aware.

Have felt guilty ever since... was only following orders, honest. :(

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

That's brilliant!!!

Great detective work by the Accrington bloodhounds.

I remember Findel's at Nelson. They were set up in an old mill factory next to the motorway.

They must have transferred everything from Joseph Arnold's premises to the Nelson site and then demolished the Church site and built that giant metal box in its place. Then they moved it all back again.

Sheila

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

That big metal shed is a blot on the landscape. It can be seen from the top of the coppice

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Part of Fine Art Development Shaz, the parent company, they moved the card making operation their in the 80s I think

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Ya, new there was something to do with the properties being devalued, can remember seeing the photo in the Obs with Jack Grime pointing at the wall

Re: Wallace Arnold's/Express Gift's
 

Some of those new builds are rented out now - presumably because some owners have negative equity.