Catalogue description IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC; ARCHIVES OF BRUNNER, MOND AND COMPANY LTD AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

DIC/BM 1-20 Records of Brunner, Mond & Co Ltd and subsidiaries. (Constituent companies of ICI, 1926).

Series 1-19 Brunner, Mond & Co Ltd. Established as a private partnership 1873. Became a public company 1881. Series 1-18 relate to the central administration of the company and Winnington works. For records emanating from, or relating specifically to, other works of the company, see series 19.

1 Articles of partnership, prospectuses and other documents relating to the establishment and status of the company.

2 List of directors.

3 Board and committee agenda, minutes and reports.

4 Cost estimates, statements of accounts, annual reports and balance sheets, ledgers, journals, cash books etc.

5 Trade agreements, agency arrangements, lists of customers, and other papers relating to scales.

6 Statistics of production and raw material consumption.

7 Correspondence and letter books.

8 Wages books, accident books and other papers relating to employees and working conditions.

9 Experimental notes, patents, and other papers relating to chemical research.

10 Process records.

11 Engineering records.

12 Registers of shareholders etc.

13 Estate records (excepting maps, for which see series 18).

14 Winnington Hall Club and other records relating to social activities (including Jubilee celebrations).

15 Miscellaneous (including printed items and artificial collections relating to the history of the company.

16 Photographs.

17 Plans and drawings.

18 Maps.

19 Records emanating from, or specifically relating to, individual works of the company (excluding Winnington) including records of predecessor firms. Arranged alphabetically by name of works. See also general series 1-18.

DIC/1-12 Lostock works:- (formerly the works of Messrs Bowman, Thompson & Co Ltd, established 1891. Sold to Brunner, Mond & Co 1900; remodelled 1907).

DIC/13-23 Middlewich works:- (originally established by Messrs Murgatroyds & Co 1893. Bought by Brunner, Mond & Co 1895, rebuilt and reopened 1897. Records also include shareholders' ledger of the nearby Cheshire Alkali & Salt Co Ltd, established 1887 but dismantled by arrangement with Brunner, Mond & Co 1897).

DIC/24-31 Sandbach works:- (originally the works of Messrs Richards, Kearne & Gasquoine, established 1873. Taken over by Brunner, Mond & Co 1878).

DIC/32-34 Silvertown works (London E):- (started by Brunner, Mond & Co 1894 to produce soda crystals from soda ash shipped from Cheshire. Caustic soda plant started up 1895).

DIC/35 H.M. Factory, Swindon:- (plant for the production of ammonium nitrate (for munitions) erected under the aegis of the government 1917).

DIC/36, 37 Wallerscote works:- Constructed on a site across the river from Winnington Works 1923 (land purchased from Lord Barrymore 1912). Started up 1926.

DIC/38-41 Witton Street saw mills (Northwich):- Presumably came into possession of Brunner, Mond & Co c.1925 (no reference in printed sources).

20 Records of subsidiaries (arranged alphabetically by name of company).

DIC/20/1-4 Ammonia Soda Co Ltd:- formed 1908 by Ivan Levinstein, Arthur Chamberlain et al to work at Plumley, Cheshire. Taken over by Brunner, Mond & Co 1916. Liquidated 1919.

DIC/5-7 Brunner, Mond (Canada) Ltd:- established 1916 jointly with the Solvay Process Co works at Amherstburg constructed 1917-20. Interest sold to the Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation (which had taken over the Solvay Process Co) 1925.

DIC/8 Brunner, Mond & Co (China) Ltd - formed 1920 (although agency business had been carried on since c.1900). Selling company only.

DIC/9 Brunner, Mond & Co (Japan) Ltd:- formed 1920 (although BM & Co (Northwich) had exported through the American Trading Co c.1901-1918 and opened a Japanese office 1918). Selling company only.

DIC/10 Brunner, Mond & Co (India) Ltd:- set up 1922. Selling company only.

DIC/11-13 Buxton Lime Firms Ltd:- established 1891. Suppliers of limestone from Derbyshire quarries. Purchased by Brunner, Mond & Co 1919.

DIC/14-30 Cassel Cyanide Co Ltd:- established 1884, in Glasgow, as the Cassel Gold Extracting Co Ltd. Renamed 1906. Became a subsidiary of Brunner, Mond & Co 1927.

DIC/31-154 Castner-Kellner Alkali Co Ltd:- (including some records of its predecessor the Aluminium Co Ltd):- established by the directors of the Aluminium Co Ltd at Weston Point, Runcorn, 1895, to work the patents of H Y Castner and Karl Kellner for the manufacture of caustic soda by the electrolysis of brine. Brunner, Mond & Co acquired a 25% interest 1916 and complete control 1920. The Aluminium Co Ltd was established 1888 on a site adjacent to Messrs Chance Bros' Oldbury works (near Birmingham) to develop H Y Castner's process for the manufacture of sodium. It went into voluntary liquidation and was absorbed by the Castner-Kellner Co 1900.

DIC/155-301 Chance & Hunt Ltd:- (chiefly Oldbury alkali works - including some records of its antecedents Messrs Chance Bros & Co, glass manufacturers, of Smethwick (est.1824), and the Oldbury Alkali Co (formed 1890):- established 1898 upon the merger of the Oldbury Alkali Co and Messrs William Hunt & Sons of Wednesbury, although Oldbury alkali works were actually established by Messrs Chance Bros in 1835, and operated by them until the formation of the Oldbury Alkali Co Ltd in 1890. A controlling interest was acquired by Brunner, Mond & Co in 1917.

DIC/302-306 Electro-Bleach & By-Products Ltd:- originally established at Middlewich, as the Electrolytic Alkali Co 1899. Reorganised and re-established as Electro-Bleach and By-Products Ltd 1914. Bought by Brunner, Mond & Co 1920 and closed 1928.

DIC/307 Magadi Soda Co Ltd:- established 1911 to exploit natural alkali deposits at Lake Magadi, Kenya. Went into voluntary liquidation 1923. New company formed 1924 in which Brunner, Mond held all Ordinary capital.

DIC/308-315 Synthetic Ammonia & Nitrates Ltd:- established by Brunner, Mond & Co 1920 to develop the production of synthetic ammonia at Billingham Works, Co Durham. (Experimental plant also at Castner-Kellner Alkali Co, Weston Point works).

DIC/UA 1-17 Records of the United Alkali Co Ltd, its predecessors, subsidiaries and associated organisations. (Constituents of ICI 1926).

Series 1-16 United Alkali Co Ltd and predecessors.

The United Alkali Co Ltd was formed on 1 Nov 1890 by the amalgamation of 48 chemical firms located on the Tyne, in Scotland, Ireland and Lancs. Additional works were acquired subsequently. Series 1-15 relate to the central administration of the company, and also include records of general significance, or records which relate to more than one site. For records emanating from, or specifically relating to, individual works of the company (including records of predecessor firms), see series 16.

1 Prospectus and Memorandum of Association.

2 List of directors and management.

3 Board and committee agenda, minutes and reports, and reports of proceedings at annual general meetings.

4 Secretary's office diaries.

5 Annual reports and balance sheets, accounts and statistics of production and consumption.

6 Trade agreements, agency arrangements, lists of customers and other papers relating to sales.

7 Correspondence.

8 Accident report books and other papers relating to employees and working conditions.

9 Central Laboratory research reports, experimental notebooks, correspondence, patents, and other papers relating to research and the development of processes.

10 Chief Engineer's Dept (Widnes) and other records relating to engineering matters.

11 Estate records (insurance valuations and title deeds).

12 Miscellaneous (including artificial collections relating to the history of the company and printed material).

13 Photographs.

14 Plans and drawings.

15 Maps.

16 Records emanating from, or specifically relating to, individual works of the company (including records of predecessor firms). Arranged alphabetically by name of works. (See also general series 1-15).

DIC/1 Aitken works, Widnes:- formerly works of J B Aitken. Originally established 1889 to manufacture ammonium chloride from gas liquor. Acquired by United Alkali Co 1916. Closed 1917.

DIC/2-5 Allhusen works, Gateshead:- formerly the Newcastle Chemical Works Co Ltd. Established 1840. Acquired 1890. Closed 1932.

DIC/6 Artificial Manures works.

DIC/7 Atlas works, Widnes:- formerly the Atlas Chemical Co Ltd, established 1873. Acquired by the United Alkali Co 1890. Closed 1896.

DIC/8 Baxter works, St Helens:- formerly the works of Henry Baxter. Acquired 1890. Closed 1937.

DIC/9-27 Fleetwood ammonia-soda works, Lancs:- established by the United Alkali Co 1892.

DIC/28-39 Gaskell, Deacon works, Widnes (amalgamated with Marsh works to form Gaskell, Marsh works 1930):- formerly Gaskell, Deacon & Co, established 1855. Acquired 1890. Merged with Hutchinson works 1916.

DIC/40, 41 Globe works, St Helens:- formerly the Globe Alkali Co Ltd, established 1879. Acquired 1890. Closed 1920.

DIC/42-45 Golding, Davis works, Widnes (amalgamated with Mathieson works to form Marsh works, 1915. From 1930 part of Gaskell, Marsh works):- formerly Golding-Davis & Co Ltd, established 1872. Acquired 1890.

DIC/46-51 Hebburn works, Hebburn-on-Tyne:- erected 1865 by Charles Tennant Sons & Co. Became a separate limited company 1885 as Charles Tennant, Partners & Co. Acquired 1890. Closed 1931.

DIC/52 Henderson works, Irvine, Scotland:- formerly W Henderson & Co Ltd. Acquired 1906. Closed 1920.

DIC/53 Hutchinson works (No 1 and No 2), Widnes (amalgamated with Gaskell, Deacon works 1916):- formerly the works of John Hutchinson; from 1881 John Hutchinson & Co "No 1" works constructed 1847. "No 2" works constructed 1859. Acquired 1890. Closed 1919.

DIC/54 Irvine works, Scotland:- formerly the Irvine Chemical Co Ltd. Acquired 1890. Closed 1906.

DIC/55-56 Kurtz works, St Helens:- formerly A G Kurtz & Co. Works erected c.1839-41. Acquired 1890. Closed 1920.

DIC/57-60 Lancashire Metal works, Widnes:- originally established as the Tharsis Sulphur & Copper Co Ltd, 1870. Taken over by the Lancashire Metal Co Ltd 1885. Acquired 1894. Closed 1927.

DIC/61 Marsh works, Widnes:- formed by the amalgamation of Mathieson and Golding, Davis works (q.v.) 1915. Amalgamated with Gaskell, Deacon works to form Gaskell, Marsh works, 1930.

DIC/62 Mathieson works, Widnes (amalgamated with Golding, Davis works to form Marsh works 1915. From 1930 part of Gaskell, Marsh works:- formerly Neil Mathieson & Co, established c.1865. Acquired 1890.

DIC/63 McKechnie's works, St Helens:- formerly the works of Duncan McKechnie, established c 1865. Acquired 1891. Closed 1925.

DIC/64 Mort, Liddell works, Widnes:- formerly Mort, Liddell & Co works (known as the Viaduct Chemical works) erected 1872. Acquired 1890. Closed 1920.

DIC/65-70 Muspratt works (No 1 and No 2), Widnes (amalgamated with Gaskell, Marsh works 1930):- "No 1" works was established by James Muspratt & Sons (Widnes and Liverpool) as Muspratt "Wood End" works c.1852. "No 2" works was originally established by the Widnes Alkali Co 1865. Both were acquired 1890, and merged 1919.

DIC/71-85 Netham works, Bristol:- formerly the Netham Chemical Co Ltd. Acquired 1890.

86-92 Pilkington works and Sullivan works, Widnes:- formerly the (separate) works of W Pilkington & Son (established 1865) and Sullivan Co Ltd (established 1867) respectively. Acquired 1890. Amalgamated as Pilkington, Sullivan works 1921.

DIC/93-96 Preesall salt works, Fleetwood, Lancs:- formerly the Fleetwood Salt Co Ltd. Acquired 1890. Preesall mines closed 1930. Burn Naze section closed 1933.

DIC/97 Runcorn Alkali works:- formerly the property of the Runcorn Soap and Alkali Co Ltd. Established pre 1863. Acquired 1890. Closed 1923.

DIC/98, 99 Spanish mines:- pyrites mines at Tinto Santa Rosa, Sotiel Coronada and Concepcion (province of Huelva, Southern Spain), acquired by the United Alkali Co 1903-1906. Transferred to Compania Anonyma de Buitron 1932.

DIC/100-115 St Rollox works, Glasgow:- formerly Charles Tennant & Co of St Rollox, established 1797. Acquired 1890.

DIC/116 Unidentified works.

DIC/117 Weston works, Runcorn:- formerly the property of the Runcorn Soap & Alkali Co Ltd. Established pre 1863. Acquired 1890. Closed 1927.

DIC/118-121 Widnes Alkali works, (merged with Muspratt Wood End works as Muspratt No 2 works 1919. Amalgamated with Gaskell, Marsh works 1930):- established as the Widnes Alkali Co 1865. Acquired 1890.

DIC/122-125 Wigg works, Runcorn (amalgamated with Gaskell, Marsh works 1932):- formerly the works of Wigg Brothers and Steele. Acquired 1890. Closed 1937.

17 Records of subsidiaries and associated organisations.

(Arranged alphabetically by name).

DIC/1-29 North American Chemical Co. Bay City, Michigan (including some records of the associated Bay Coal Mining Co). Formed by the United Alkali Co 1896 for the electrolytic manufacture of chlorates. Works erected 1898 and closed 1928.

DIC/30-40 Widnes Traders' Association:- Association of (chiefly) chemical manufacturers formed c. 1874 and terminated 1891. Records and library presented to the United Alkali Co 1891.

DIC/SU 1-14 Records of the Salt Union Ltd and associated organisations.

(Taken over by ICI 1937). Salt Union:- formed 1888 (as a limited company) by a London syndicate which bought out and merged approx 60 salt manufacturers in Cheshire, Worcs, Middlesborough and Ireland. Series 1-12 comprise records relating to the central administration of the company and individual works (including some records of antecedent firms). Records relating specifically to individual works have not been separately organised as they do not survive in sufficient quantity to warrant this. For records of associated organisations see series 13, 14.

1 Records relating to the formation of the Union and its later status.

2 Board and committee minutes and reports of proceedings at annual general meetings.

3 Annual reports, balance sheets etc.

4 Registers of shipments and deliveries, price lists, trade marks and other records relating to sales.

5 Correspondence.

6 Apprenticeship indentures, wages books and other papers relating to employees.

7 Patent specifications, reports and other papers relating to research.

8 Process records.

9 Estate records (inventory and title deeds).

10 Miscellaneous (including printed items and artificial collections relating to the history of the Union).

11 Photographs.

12 Plans.

13 Records of Antecedent Firms.

DIC/1 Droitwich Patent Salt Company Ltd:- one of the constituent companies of the Salt Union at its formation in 1888 when the company was purchased for £125,000.

14 Records of associated organisations.

(For list of works acquired by the Salt Union, with names of vendors, see A F Calvert A History of the Salt Union (London 1913) pp 1-9.

DIC/1 British Salt Association:- formed by the Salt Union and a number of "outside manufacturers" in the North-West for the regulation of prices 1899. Dissolved by the former because of lack of co-operation 1905.

DIC/2 North-Western Salt Co Ltd:- formed to regulate salt business with the United Alkali Co by the Salt Union and a number of other salt manufacturers 1906.

DIC/CMC Records of the Chemical & Metallurgical Corporation Ltd.

(Taken over by ICI 1933). Incorporated 1919. Head Office 701 Salisbury House, Finsbury Circus, London EC2. Works at Stratford (E London), Harlesden (Middx) and Astmoor (Runcorn, Cheshire).

DIC/SAC Records of the Standard Ammonia Co of Sydney Ltd.

(Taken over by ICI c.1931). Incorporated c.1902.

DIC/X Miscellaneous

Includes ICI Research Dept publications and indexes and files created by Dr R Dickinson, including original documents arranged under subjected headings, which have not yet been incorporated into the main catalogue.

DIC/X 1 Index to articles, regulations and minutes of the Safety Fuse Trade Association.

DIC/X 2 Schedule of proceedings at meetings between participants in the Anglo-German Bleaching Powder Agreement and the Dual Agreements.

DIC/X 3 Nominal index, "Archives Index" and index to related publications, compiled by R Dickinson.

DIC/X 4 Biographical notes on the Allen family.

DIC/X 5 Agreements relating to the formation of ICI.

DIC/X 6 Correspondence and newspaper cuttings relating to proposals for a Museum of Industry.

DIC/X 7 Correspondence and papers on the history of the chemical industry in Widnes, by A S Irvine.

DIC/X 8 'Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd' pamphlet, 1927.

DIC/X 9 ICI (Mond Division) Research Department publications.

DIC/X 10 Subject files (Dickinson series) of material abstracted from the main series.

DIC/X 11 Minutes and correspondence of the Weaver Navigation Company.

DIC/X 12 Files extracted by Adams from DIC/X10 and listed according to company and subject.

DIC/X 13 Miscellaneous photographs.

DIC/X 14 Glass-plate and film negatives.

Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, Brunner, Mond and Company Ltd

Acc 2884, 3053

• Cheshire
• Chemical industry
• Chemicals

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