Chemical Industry

Thermphos International is one of the world’s largest producers of phosphorus, phosphoric acid, phosphates, phosphonates and phosphorus derivatives. The company supplies material for pharmaceuticals, hygiene, industrial and household cleaning, food and feed additives. beverages, flame retardants, crop protection etc.

Petrochemicals have been produced on the Carrington site since 1949. The main output from this plant is polypropylene and polyethylene . Formerly operated by Shell the Carrington site is part of the LyondellBasell Industries Group of Companies which was formed at the end of 2007 by the combination of Basell Polyolefins and Lyondell Chemicals.

Reflections on the Mersey estuary behind the Ineos Fluor, Castner Kellner plant at Runcorn.

Sunset behind the Ineos Fluor Castner Kellner plant at Runcorn.

The Lukavac coke works proved almost impossible to photograph from outside and access to the site was a definite no. I had to be satisfied with this view from the Sikulje mine.

A look across the River Weaver to the Ineos Chlor chemical plant at Rocksavage.

Part of the extensive chemical complex at Wilton viewed from the railway bridge at Coatham.

Detail of the terracotta plaque on the tower of the Kerfoot works at Bardsley Vale.

On my wanderings about the hills around Macclesfield I looked back on the Hurdsfield side of town and was struck by just how big the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical plant has now become. As the largest employer in the town it has a major impact on the local economy and it would be a disaster if production were to be moved elsewhere. Hurdsfield Church can be seen, looking rather small, at the lower left, and Woodford Airfield and the soon to be closed BAE factory is in the background. The Macclesfield Canal runs behind the Leylandii on the far right. This needs to be viewed large .

Business pride in terracotta on the water tower of the Thomas Kerfoot pharmaceuticals factory at Bardsley Vale. In 1864 Thomas Kerfoot acquired a chemist's business in London Road, Manchester, established in 1797, on his own account. Initially he traded as a retail chemist, but soon began to manufacture galenicals. In 1887 he abandoned production of compressed pills and tablets. In 1890 he moved to premises in Chester Street, Manchester, which were vacated after total destruction by fire in 1896. The firm re-located to a site at Bardsley Vale on the river Medlock. between Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, and a warehouse was opened at 42 Lamb's Conduit Street, Holborn, London. In 1900 Thomas Kerfoot was joined in partnership by his son, Ernest Hodgson Kerfoot, and the business was styled Thomas Kerfoot & Co. A range of new pharmaceutical products was introduced, including Salaspin in 1914 and Kerocain, a synthetic local anaesthetic, in 1915. In 1918 the business was incorporated as a limited liability company, Thomas Kerfoot & Co Ltd. Ernest Kerfoot's 2 sons, Dr T H Manners Kerfoot and Henry Manners Kerfoot, entered the company in 1931, and in 1936 Thomas Kerfoot died, followed in 1944 by his son, Ernest Kerfoot. During the Second World War the company produced the anli-malarial drug Mepacrine, flavine antiseptics and large quantities of pills and injectables for use by the armed forces. After the war the company continued to produce pills and lozenges, and also began manufacture of penicillin cream. By the 1970s it specialised in the production of antibiotics and steroids, which it sold in unbranded form, directly to retail pharmacies, hospitals and wholesalers. In 1990 Thomas Kerfoot & Co Ltd was acquired by Medeva pic, Jermyn Street, London, and its business interests were merged with those of Evans Medical Ltd. also a subsidiary of Medeva pic. Thomas Kerfoot & Co Ltd was renamed Medevale Pharmaservices Ltd in 1993. The business is now owned by Swedish parmaceutical company Recipharm.

Cooling plant at the LyondellBasell Industries Group polythene and polyethylene production site at Carrington.

A reflective view across the canal at the Lostock Works of Brunner Mond.

The US owned Cabot Carbon plant at Ellesmere Port produced carbon black using the oil furnace process. This is used in the production of tyres, toners, printing inks, plastics and coatings. The works was busy when I took this shot but has now been closed and production transferred to a cheaper location in China. It was Britain's largest producer of Carbon black. Now the demolition men are on site.

The lights of the Brunner Mond soda ash plant at Winnington reflect on the sluggish River Weaver. The massive structure housing the nine patent shaft limekilns is prominent in the centre.

Limekilns at the Brunner Mond soda ash works at Winnington, Northwich.

Probably the best surviving features at the Cheadle Bleachworks at the time of this photo were the two boilers. The Lancashire type to the right and the more modern oil or gas fired successor on the left. I strongly suspect that the white insulation that was lying all around was asbestos.

Brunner Mond chemical works at Lostock near Northwich.

Petrochemicals have been produced on the Carrington site since 1949. The main output from this plant is polypropylene and polyethylene . Formerly operated by Shell the Carrington site is part of the LyondellBasell Industries Group of Companies which was formed at the end of 2007 by the combination of Basell Polyolefins and Lyondell Chemicals.