Remembering Lulu visiting Smart & Brown Factory, Spennymoor

But, despite all this going on - in County Durham, a strange collaboration happened in 1966, when music icon Lulu, real name Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, visited the Smart and Brown factory in Merrington Lane, Spennymoor.

LULU opening the eye level grill extension at the Smart and Brown factory in Merrington Lane Spennymoor, November 1966 (Image: IAN WRIGHT) It might seem like a bizarre pairing—bringing together the swinging '60s and an industrial factory—but this was part of a marketing campaign between the musical artist and the brand. 

As part of this appearance from Lulu, she opened the eye-level grill extension at the manufacturing brand. 

Former Northern Echo photographer Ian Wright remembered the day and kindly shared the images of Lulu with us.

LULU at the Smart and Brown factory in Merrington Lane Spennymoor, November 1966 (Image: IAN WRIGHT) In the photos, Lulu can be seen holding an eye-level grill and visiting factory workers.

As well as Lulu's visit, the factory holds a bit of nostalgia for Ian - with the factory employing his grandma and mum during the war. 

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He recalls: "During the war, my Granny Foster, every day of the week, would lead her six daughters, (my mother Nora was the youngest) over the road to do a ten-hour shift making bomb shells and bullets for the war effort."

The factory was built on the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Middlestone Moor, and, like many factories during the war, manufactured bomb shells and bullets. 

Despite its manufacturing past, the factory was destroyed in a large fire in 1981.