«1896 1896-1913 1898 »

Apart from a few coal mines, small iron and brick companies, local fishing and seafaring trade, Deeside was agricultural and sparsely populated at the time of the steelworks opening. John Summers therefore has to build not only a steelworks but an industrial community. Some of the first men recruited for the new works come from the Globe Works at Stalybridge but later they come from all over the country. In the early years many move into lodgings travelling back to their families at the weekend. Many men are recruited from the Black Country in mid England and the mills they operate become known as “The Staffordshire Mills.”