In the late 1940s the two friends met up as post-graduate students at Manchester University, and
the detailed research they then undertook resulted not only in further degrees for them, but
also in the publication in 1954 of ‘A Merseyside Town in the Industrial Revolution: St. Helens
1750-1900’, which incorporated their theses. Many of these had been published in The
Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. Together with the work of
other researchers, they form the basis for academic study of the Sankey and its associated
history.
The book itself is acknowledged and respected as having set a new and high standard in studies
of local, industrial and social history and has become a ‘bible’ for anyone seeking knowledge of
St. Helens’ past. John Harris was responsible for the earlier sections. These set the
pre-1750 scene, and went on to describe the need for and the construction of the Sankey Canal,
and the tremendous upsurge in industrial activity generated at the canal’s coal-rich terminus at
Ravenhead.
Investigating the copper-processing concern which was swiftly set up at Ravenhead led John
Harris, who had become a lecturer at Liverpool University, to his next book - ‘The Copper
King’. This was a study of the Welsh solicitor, Thomas Williams, whose wheelings and dealings
not only brought Anglesey copper to Ravenhead in Mersey flats, and the Hughes family to
Sherdley, but also made Thomas Williams one of Britain’s richest men.
Always concerned with the human face of history, he became increasingly involved with Industrial
Archaeology, the discovery of where and how manufacturing processes were undertaken, and their
effects on those involved.
John Harris turned his attention to Prescot’s watch part making industry, was seen exploring an
abandoned watch maker’s workshop in a short TV documentary, and supported the formation of
Prescot museum. In Liverpool he brought into being the North West Society for Industrial
Archaeology and History (N.W.S.I.A.H), which is still flourishing, and was recently renamed the
Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society.
In 1970 John Harris left Merseyside, and his Eccleston Park home, to become Professor of
Economic History at Birmingham University. Based there he was able to play a considerable role
in the transformation of the dirty, neglected and largely derelict sites of Ironbridge and
Coalbrookdale area - to which he had introduced parties from St. Helens and from N.W.S.I.A.H -
into an industrial museum of immense significance.
John Harris maintained his links with his own area. He returned to talk to and dine with the
two societies. With Theo Barker he formed part of the team created to assist two post-graduate
researchers working on twentieth century St. Helens. He came regularly to Prescot Museum, as
technical advisor to its committee.
More importantly for SCARS, John Harris returned with Theo Barker to take part in day
schools on St. Helens’ industrial development. Meanwhile, moves were afoot to set up a Society
for the Sankey. The public meeting at which it was decided actively to pursue the restoration
of the Sankey Canal was greatly assisted by the interest their course had raised. Thus
SCARS was born!
Seven years later, in 1992, when St.Helens Museum celebrated its centenary, SCARS, the Friends
of the Museum, and St. Helens Historical Society all took part. Their representatives combined
to organise a day of ‘centennial lectures’ held at St. Helens College. Following a talk by
Brenda Mills, of the ‘Friends’, outlining the Museum’s history, came talks given jointly by the
two guests of honour, John Harris and Theo Barker, and it fell to Peter Keen to conclude a
highly successful day with an illustrated account of SCARS and its activities.
Both guest speakers were amazed that over 250 people crowded into the College lecture theatre on
that occasion - and such was the support shown by the audience for a possible re-printing of
‘St. Helens’ that a new edition was produced the following year.
Over the years, John Harris had carried out extensive research, including much in France, into
the history of another industry the Sankey Canal had brought to Ravenhead - glass making. On
one occasion he told the St. Helens Historical Society of the nefarious eighteenth century
characters he had discovered who had seemed all too ready to pirate the new processes developed
by others. Retirement from his various university responsibilities gave John Harris time to
write, and by the time of his death his task was complete - a mammoth volume on industrial
espionage had just had its final proofs checked and was ready for the printers.
Last September the two friends had returned to St Helens to speak at another centenary
celebration. This was marking the opening of the Gamble Institute in 1896. Again they were
amazed that so many had come to hear them - the ground floor of the Central Library was packed,
and some listeners were even accommodated in the librarians’ enclosure! None there imagined
fate would make this the last joint appearance in their home town of the two boys from Cowley
Prep who had each become a Professor of Economic History.
In his lecture John Harris stressed the significance for the Industrial Revolution of the
development that occurred at Ravenhead - likening that area to Ironbridge in its importance, and
pointing out that the key to its development was the creation of the Sankey Canal.
That an economic historian of international standing attached so much importance to an area of
his home town, and particularly to its canal, was especially gladdening to the SCARS members
present that evening. That historian was their Birmingham member, John Harris. He will be much
missed.