Christmas lights for the Zan Clock

The Christmas lights have been switched on behind the Zan Clock in Wheelock on The Mill at Zan Industrial Park.

Marie Curie Cancer Care "The Great Escape Challenge"

Marie Curie Cancer Care are looking for fundraising teams to take part in
The Great Escape Challenge 21-23 May 2010
See full details at
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/events/great-escape-challenge/

Their main website is at
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/

Zan Limited 90 Years Old

Zan Limited became a limited company 90 years ago on the 20th August 1919. It was originally known as Hovey and Lowther when the two brothers Mr RB Hovey and Mr EL Hovey bought the building then known as Wheelock Mills running a chemicals business with Mr Lowther.

The Laboratory.

The Zan Clock

The Zan works clock was rescued from the demolition of the Brunner Mond factory in Malkins Bank and installed in Wheelock in around 1932. The Brunner Mond factory was situated about half a mile upstream on the Trent and Mersey Canal, manufacturing various bulk chemicals from the locally sourced brine, materials such as limestone and coal were brought in by narrowboats on the canal and the North Staffs Railway line which ran through the site.

The clock face replaced one of the original window openings in the top floor of the mill building.


The clock mechanism requires winding up each week, a task that has been undertaken for over 75 years without fail. The clock will run for at least 8 days before the weight hits the floor in the room below!

The link between the mechanism and the fingers on the outside. Note the counterbalance to the fingers.

The clock is maintained by J.B. Joyce from Whitchurch Shropshire, an engineer visits each year to oil and check the mechanism. J.B. Joyce are part of the same group that maintain Big Ben.

Peacock Butterfly

An Easter visitor to the top floor of the Mill on Zan Industrial Park, brought out of hibernation by the sunshine.
UK Butterflies has a very useful site to help identification and provide background information. http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?vernacular_name=Peacock

The Cycle Junction opens for business.

The Cycle Junction has now opened in Unit 27 at Zan Industrial Park, Crewe Road Wheelock.

The venture has developed from owner Mike Willacy's home garage to provide a repair and servicing facility together with sales of new bikes, spares and those vital extra bits all cyclists find they need.

Mike says "we’re always glad to chat about anything cycling", including information on cycle rides in and around Cheshire.

The Cycle Junction has an online shop at http://www.thecyclejunction.com/

Contact Mike Willacy on 01270 767115

Zan Industrial Park.
ZAN Limited, Crewe Road, Wheelock, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 4QH
Zan Limited owns and manages the Zan Industrial Park, renting out Light Industrial Workshops, Storage and Office Units. It is ideal for small and start-up companies. There are excellent transport links.
For further information, contact Richard Hovey (01270) 762302, email richard.hovey@zan-ltd.co.uk