24 WILLIAM GOSSAGE 



Hutchinson and Earle had begun their 

 manufacture of alkali on the eastern side of 

 the canal, Gaskell, Deacon, and Co. had also 

 established their works. Muspratt had his 

 soda processes in operation, and Lambert was 

 smelting copper. Widnes was at that time a 

 village, the works were small and the houses 

 few, residence was not only bearable but even 

 inviting, bathers frequented the shores of the 

 Mersey, round about Woodend, and some of 

 the young men kept their yachts. Woodend 

 was bright and sweet and salubrious. 



Mr. Gossage lived at his works. His 

 enterprise led him to erect mills to crush the 

 limestone to be supplied to the alkali works. 

 His life was amongst his workpeople, superin- 

 tending the industries he had established, or 

 in his laboratory prosecuting his researches. 

 He was not drawn away from his studies by 

 the allurements of social enjoyment, and there 

 were no necessities of circumstances which at 

 that time demanded his attention to public 

 affairs. His house was adjacent to his 

 business, and his recreation as well as his 

 occupation was to be found in the pursuit of 

 his daily calling. 



The years 1853 and 1854 were fruitful 

 in invention. In May, 1853, he patents 



