Catalogue description LONDON RESEARCH STATION

London Research Station

In the early 1920's David Milne-Watson recognised the value of research work and fostered its development by the setting up of research laboratories. While J G Clark was working in Horseferry Road, the predecessor to Watson House, plans were made to build a central laboratory at Fulham works. 'The Fulham Laboratories', 'the 1927 building' or 'No.1 Laboratory', as it was often referred to, was opened in 1927. Research work focused on the production and purification of gas and its by-products.

Liaison with all the individual works laboratories meant field studies were easily achieved and much work was done 'on location' at various sites. During the war work met whatever the immediate need was and this often meant dealing with distribution and supply problems caused by damage to mains. They were even drafted in to help with detection of UXB's, efficient extraction of Benzole and fog dispersal using coke braziers.

After the war the work of the Fulham laboratories was divided into four streams: Catalytic work; Removal of H2S from gas; By-products; Miscellaneous. In 1948 an extra building known as No.4 Laboratory (No.s 1,2 and 3 being housed in the 1927 building) was constructed for pilot plant work. A year later No.5 laboratory was established in an inherited building on the wharf for large scale development work.