Underworld

Underworld is the local textiles factory in Coronation Street owned and operated by Johnny Connor. The factory produced mainly underwear and had been owned by multiple people over the years. The factory was first seen in 1990 when the modern side of the street was built. The factory was originally a printing workshop called Dun 2 A T owned by Steve McDonald. Eventually, Mike Baldwin bought the building, named it Underworld, and went into partnership with Angie Freeman to manufacture lingerie. The new factory caught fire in 2004 when Janice Battersby caused a fire by dropping a cigarette onto a pile of clothes in the stockroom. Nick Tilsley saved Janice but they both lost their jobs. After Mike died in April 2006, his son, Danny ran the factory until September when Jamie Baldwin and Adam Barlow sold up to Paul and Liam Connor. Carla inherited Paul's half of the factory when he was killed in June of the following year. Liam took on Paul's widow Carla and newcomer Tony Gordon. When Liam was murdered by Tony (for having an affair with Tony's fiancée Carla), Tony took over. Underworld was destroyed by a fire on 9th June 2010 but was re-opened. Carla accepted a business contract from Frank Foster who signed a contract to give him a 40% ownership. However, Frank was murdered just a few hours after signing the deal but because the paperwork was still in his possession, the contract was not legally binding. Carla then became co-proprietor alongside Peter Barlow, after briefly being in partnership with her brother, Rob Donovan.

With Peter signing his 50% share of the business back over to his wife in July 2014, Carla was once again the sole owner until a gambling addiction got her into financial difficulty. Originally intent on selling up, Nick Tilsley was able to contact and summon Aidan Connor, who in August 2015 offered to invest £100,000 in return for a 40% share. Aidan's dad Johnny arrived and claimed that the £100,000 in fact belonged to him. He agreed to invest on the condition that he became a company director. Johnny bought Carla's 60% share of the factory following her departure for a fresh start in Devon and he continued to run the business alongside Aidan. In January 2017, Johnny revealed that he was preparing to retire and planned to hand the factory over to Aidan. However, he later discovered that Adam and Peter Barlow were planning to sue the Connors for conning Adam out of his share of the factory when he was eighteen.

The curse of Underworld
Underworld is notorious for strings of bad luck and death in recent years, including people associated with it. Mike Baldwin died after a battle with Alzheimer's in 2006 in the arms of rival Ken Barlow on the factory steps. In 2007, polish worker Kasia Barowicz died from falling down the stairs. Later in the year, factory boss Paul Connor died in a car crash. A year later, his brother Liam was murdered by new factory owner Tony Gordon, who was engaged to Paul's widow Carla. Tony also attempted to kill pensioner Jed Stone over the Christmas period of 2008, but had spared him and installed Jed in a flat in Wigan. Tony perished in 2010 when he burned down the factory with Carla in it, although she escaped. A month after the incident, John Stape buried his old work colleague Colin Fishwick under the factory floor after stealing his identity; the body was recovered a year later. Carla's next business partner Frank Foster raped her, but was mysteriously found dead in the premises in March 2012 after conning the factory out of her. In June 2014, Carla's brother and business partner, Rob Donovan, murdered local barmaid Tina McIntyre and was sent to prison for his crimes.

The owners of the factory over the years have been:

Current staff

 * Johnny Connor – Proprietor / Company Director
 * Carla Connor – Company Director
 * Aidan Connor - Company Director
 * Alya Nazir – Manager
 * Eva Price – Marketing Consultant
 * Sally Metcalfe – Machinery Supervisor
 * Kirk Sutherland – Packing Supervisor/Deliveryman
 * Dirk - Storeman
 * Beth Tinker – Machinist
 * Sean Tully – Machinist
 * Izzy Armstrong – Machinist
 * Fiz Stape – Machinist
 * Sinead Tinker - Machinist
 * Jenny Bradley – Machinist
 * Gina Seddon – Machinist

Former owners and staff

 * Mike Baldwin (Owner) {1998-2006}
 * Danny Baldwin (Owner) {2004-2006}
 * Adam Barlow (Owner) {2006}
 * Paul Connor (Owner) {2006-2007}
 * Liam Connor (Owner) {2006-2008}
 * Tony Gordon (Owner) {2008-2010}
 * Nick Tilsley (Owner) {2010}
 * Frank Foster (Owner) {2011-2012}
 * Anne Foster (Manager) {2011-2012}
 * Rob Donovan (Manager/Owner) {2012-2013}
 * Peter Barlow (Owner) {2013-2014}
 * Rosie Webster (P.A.) {2007-2009}
 * Michelle Connor (Marketing Consultant & Manager) {2011-2013}
 * Tracy Barlow (Packer) {2013}
 * Janice Battersby (Machinist) {1998-2011}
 * Kelly Crabtree (Machinist) {2004-2010}
 * Becky Granger (Machinist) {2006-2007,2011}
 * Joanne Jackson (Machinist) {2005-2007}
 * Wiki Dankowska (Machinist) {2007-2009}
 * Angela Harris (Machinist) {2002-2005}
 * Kasia Barowicz (Machinist) {2007}
 * Jessie Jackson (Machinist) {2005-2006}
 * Linda Baldwin ( Machinist /Assistant Manager) {1998-2001}
 * Gwen Davies (Machinist) {2000}
 * Alison Webster (Machinist)
 * Eileen Grimshaw (Machinist) {2011-2012}
 * Bobbi Lewis (Machinist) {2000-2002}
 * Karen McDonald (Machinist) {2000-2004}
 * Sonia Marshall (Machinist) {2003-2005}
 * Edna Miller (Packer) {????-????}
 * Maria Connor (P.A.) {2011}
 * Gary Windass (Packer) {????-????}
 * Kirsty Soames (Packer) {2012-2013}
 * Karl Munro (Packer) {2012}
 * Hayley Cropper (Machinist) {2000-2014}
 * Maddie Heath (Packer) {2014}
 * Julie Carp (Machinist) {2008-2015}
 * Kate Connor (Packer) {2015-2017}