Major Carryer’s Car

LZ 8107 Morris station wagon.

In Watson Street (Railway Street) outside Wades pottery factory. This Morris was owned by Major Carryer, manager of Wades Portadown. The Major was married to Iris, daughter of Sir George Wade.

Working in Wades

See Michelle Matchett working in Wades

Lunch break at Wades

Enjoying their lunch break outside Wades factory are L/R Maureen O'Neill,George Beattie,Ruby Bonis all of whom were workers in the Press-shop within Wades. Ruby was the forewoman in charge and Geordie as he was known was the 'setter' who's job it was to 'set-up' the production presses for the various jobs to be carried out.
The building to the right of the picture is the former Rockeden House(now demolished). At the top of the photo you can see the gantry which led from the mill on the far side of Rockeden where raw material was processed and then pumped through pipework into the 'sliphouse' in the main factory on the left.There it was futher refined then used in the various porcelain production process.

Wade Christmas Dinner

Employees of Wades enjoying their Christmas party.Back row L/R Mr.T.Taylor, Mr.Hugh Liggett, Mrs.Ruby Bonis, Mr.Raymond Topping and Miss.Arlene Liggett.
Front row L/R Mrs.E.Taylor,Mrs.Doreen ? ,Mrs.Sadie Liggett, Mrs.Sylvia Mc Cullough (Slyvia tragically lost her life in the New Year's eve Gilford pub bombing and on the day of her funeral the factory shut down as a mark of respect to this popular press shop worker). Mrs. Beulagh Topping and Miss.Wendy Stevenson.
One of the greatest attributes of the Wade family was the closeness of all it's employees and once one became a member of that family a great commaraderiee was developed and this manifested it'self every year at the annual Christmas dinner dance which was always a big hit with the whole workforce and it was there that many a romance blossomed.

Photo courtesy T Bonis

At the back of Wades factory

Billy Clements the boiler man wheeling out a girl who is about to get married.
We would like to hear from anyone who can identify the girls.
Our thanks to Mr R Brady for permission to use the photo.

Harry McAdam Inside Wade factory

Harry McAdam a well known resident of Florence Court who was employed as a kilnman in the factory. Here he can be seen placing the Nat West pigs onto the kiln truck bats in preparation to the truck going into the new Birks gas-fired kilns.
These pigs were money boxes & huge numbers were produced in the Watson Street factory during early to middle 80's

Inside the Factory at Christmas

We would like to hear from any ex-employees who can date the photo & identify any of the workers.

Back of the Wade Factory in Watson Street

We would like to hear from anyone who can date this photo.It was obviously taken before the fire which swept along this section of the factory as the upper floor was destroyed in the blaze and was later demolished.

Wade Pottery Factory

Inside the Wade factory in Edenderry, Portadown.
The pottery items are now highly collectable. The society plans to publish a book on the factory in September 2007