Catalogue description Government Wool Disinfecting Station

The Government Wool Disinfecting Station was originally set up as a trial station, following a recommendation in the report of a Departmental Committee of the Home Office in 1918 on the question of anthrax in industries and the use of wool and hair. The station was established at Liverpool, most of the wool coming into that port. The Anthrax Prevention Act, 1919 placed a control on the import of goods infected or likely to be infected with anthrax by confining the import of wool and hair to Liverpool; and empowered the secretary of state to make provisions for disinfection where necessary. Thus the station at Liverpool became permanent and began full operations in 1921.

On 1 April 1946, the Ministry of Labour and National Service took over the station from the Home Office. Due to increased running costs and a decrease in the volume of work, as private concerns were being encouraged to disinfect their own wool, the station was closed when the latter reached a satisfactory standard in August 1971.