Spondon is a ward in the east of the city of derby. The original village dates back to the domesday book but the area became heavily industrialised in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with companies such as british celanese now celanese corporation who made. With the celanese plant at spondon due to be demolished this summer i wonder what the future holds for the sidings that once served the plant. British celanese chemical works, spondon, uk urbex. The village of spondon from saxon cross to spondon mile. She also set up the companys showrooms, the first of which was at hanover square. Celanese, acordis, novaceta, courtaulds spondon employees.
Spondon railway station wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Spondon is a village and ancient parish that forms a suburb of the city of derby. Here are all the items currently available in our online image archive. Apr 15, 2014 the very comprehensive,and beautifully shot report from speed on spondon celanese, really did lay down a marker for what this place had to offer. British celanese had its principal manufacturing facility at spondon in derby. Gentleman specifically asked me about the future of the companys activities in relation to this narrow area.
It was listed in 1967 on the register of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, and is currently grade i, meaning it is of exceptional interest. Spondon stationmaster died in tragic freak accident. Aug 24, 2014 a very short scene of henry entering the british celanese works at spondon derby in 1965. From the south of the area one has to climb uphill to reach what was the village centre, the most common. Hawthorn leslie works no 2491 henry 040st preserved. The name spondon is anglo saxon and describes a gravelly hill. The british celanese synthetic fibres works, spondon, from the east, 1946. Iam fairly certain there is a whole load more to see here, the power station and current live bits for starters. The celanese acetate production facility in spondon, derby, dates back to 1916, when it was first built to produce cellulose acetate dope to waterproof the fabriccovered wings of world war 1 fighter aircraft. Spondon s main industrial business has had many names over the years, originally british celanese and, in more recent years, courtaulds and acordis before currently readopting, in part, to its original celanese name.
There were numerous british championship wins for spondon in those days too, and even barry sheene had a spondon connection. Mentioned in the domesday book of 1086, 1 up until the modern era spondon was a village separate from the city of derby. The firm was set up by henri and camille dreyfus of switzerland when the brothers were invited to. British celanese, spondon, feb 2015 when i got there i couldnt believe how big the whole site was, no way was we going to explore the whole thing in a day, just get what we could and come back another time. Originally a small village, spondon dates back to the domesday book and it. Nowadays the two are very close to each other, although spondon still has a distinct village feel to it. Spondon, a village, a township, a parish, and a subdistrict, in shardlow district, derbyshire. You can take a train from loughborough to british celanese via long eaton and spondon in around 1h 19m. Gc5f1xc sidetracked spondon derby traditional cache. History of spondon, in derby and derbyshire map and description. The last time i completed the cancer research uk walk 10,000 steps a day challenge was after i was diagnosed, but before i had chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant for mantle cell lymphoma.
She went on to found the companys design department in london and design sections at other plants including congleton, spondon and wrexham. Spondon wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. British celanese was a chemical company based in england. If you live, or have ever lived in spondon, why not come and join the spondon online facebook group. Mar 28, 2020 the last time i completed the cancer research uk walk 10,000 steps a day challenge was after i was diagnosed, but before i had chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant for mantle cell lymphoma. British celanese was established during world war one, when aircraft technology was in its. Apr 18, 2014 visited with geo and cregg yes so this place is doing the rounds, orshould i say people are doing the rounds at it, but being derby born and bred, and being as my mum once owned the railway cottage on spondon station that looks directly at it id be a bloody fool not to go have a potter. If you would like us to post a copy of any of the books, either in the uk or abroad, please email. Made in preston is an opportunity to uncover, share and celebrate this rich history and explore its incredible significance in prestons development.
Take a tour of the historic village of spondon, derbyshire, uk. A brief history of spondon, derby the origins of spondon can be traced back over 10 centuries, with a reference to the village as spondune in the doomsday book of 1086. Courtaulds, derby redundancies hansard, 8 august 1980. Chapel street and sitwell street in the centre are the main areas of this retail activity. Celanese acetates photos of spondon, derby, spondon.
After decades of significant and successful production, the company ceased operations of the flake and tow production units at the. Lost houses spondon old hall country images magazine. Here it was given the name henry after dr henri dreyfus, the swiss chemist who was the chairman of british celanese. To view more particular items, you can select from the categories in the menu on the left, click on a particular era on the timeline below or use the search box on the left.
He was president of celanese corporation of america for 27 years. Softer and stronger, as well as being cheaper to produce than other fabrics used at the time such as satin or taffeta, celanese was used in the production of garments. They hoped to prosper by working together to provide some local bus services and to transport large numbers of workers to the british celanese factory at spondon near derby. By 1928 it was owned by british celanese limited later cautaulds and based at spondon near derby. Here you can tour around some of spondon s most historic landmarks.
Spondon historical society was formed in 1982 by a group of friends who had attended a local evening class. It was then nationalised before eventually being sold to courtaulds. British celanese, spondon, feb 2015 derelict places. There are a number of further books in various stages of completion, with work in hand on a history of the guides, local pubs, celanese and potter street. Home 60s british celanese 1967 british celanese 1967. Spondon bowls club is located at the old asterdale leisure centre, borrowash road, spondon, derby, de21 7ph. Over 30million bricks were used in the construction, and the original site covered 121 hectares. Spondon archive is a new joint venture between the village improvement committee and spondon historical society. Loughborough to british celanese 4 ways to travel via. Medal of the celanese sports club, an occupational club. Kimberley walsh signs her autobography at asda in spondon, derby, uk. At its height, the spondon plant employed some 20,000 people. It aims to publish a series of booklets about spondon past and present. The company was established to produce cellulose acetate dope, a substance used to stiffen the fabrics stretched.
Account cart lightboxes purchased images downloaded images download history invoices. Spondon stationmaster died in tragic freak accident derbyshire live. Parish church of st werburgh, spondon, derby by john r hughes and s t lusted. History the origins of the company lie with two brothers, henri and camille dreyfus. Spondon railway station wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Future of the celanese sidings at spondon railuk forums. The club moved to the borrowash road site in 1953 and under the banner of british celanese it twice hosted the british crown green merit finals all england in 1955 and 1964. The origins of the company lie with two brothers, henri and camille dreyfus. Pdf books history of older nonconformity of wrexham an palmer 12th august 2018. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. The company continued to develop into different areas and in 1921 the first celanese filament yarn was produced. Peter heath shares the tragic story of the death of a spondon stationmaster. View is of the main entrance to the complex taken from the footbridge over spondon station. It is also massive and in derby, which is the best city.
British celanese spondon celanese chemicals celanese derby. Mr heaths piece forms part of a new book, cowritten with alan hunt, which looks at the history of all four of spondon s power stations, as well as the british celanese works. Originally a small village, spondon dates back to the domesday book and it became heavily industrialised in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with companies such as british celanese. A small village, spondon dates back to the domesday book and it became industrialised in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with companies such as british celanese. Geographical streets anglers lane acorn way badger close beeches avenue borrowash bypass borrowash road brockley brunswood close. Formed in 1916, it survived as an independent company until 1957 when it became a subsidiary of courtaulds. Courtaulds, the successor to british celanese and who maintained the house in exemplary fashion, sold the homestead in 1996 for. Medal of the celanese sports club, an occupational club run by the employees of the british celanese chemical company at spondon, derbyshire. Spondon archive is pleased to publish this book, which we feel goes beyond the bounds of local history and is of interest to anyone who cares about our industrial heritage. British celanese was established during world war one, when aircraft technology was in its infancy. Spondon in derby was once a quiet farming village, but is now a prosperous suburb of derby, situated 4 miles to the east of it, bisected by the busy a52 derby to nottingham bypass. Celanese photographs photographs from celanese at spondon in derby.
The station is owned by network rail and managed by east midlands railway. British celanese weaving team open age charity match. Researching the grander houses of spondon has never been easy, simply. Image archive spondon history spondon historical society. In 1916, the brothers were invited to live in britain by the. Information and services guide for spondon in derby. The village is mentioned in the domesday book of 1086. British celanese was the first factory in britain to produce propylene and from it isopropyl alcohol and acetone in 1942.
The station was enlarged in the early 20th century to cope with the volume of traffic for the nearby british celanese plant. Some will be original material, others will be republication of existing documents with an objective of making them available to a wider audience. Read spondon during war a nostalgic memory of spondon in our share your memories online community. One would hope that they are at least retained until derby station is resignalled later this decade. If you would like us to post a copy of any of the books either in the uk or.
The site was constructed between 19161918 by sir robert mcalpine with. Amongst many other items it was involved in the manufacture of filter tow for use in cigarette filters. The chemical plant in spondon has had several names over the years. Spondon a was built in the 1920s by british celanese. In july 2009, the society published this booklet on the history of an almost.
Latest additions to the archive are featured first. In 1929 british celanese employed her on a permanent basis. What companies run services between loughborough, england and british celanese, england. This is when thousands of people worked at british celanese. It features a host of articles about the history and beauty of derbyshire. Christopher hogg, reaffirmed the companys view that british celanese at spondon was a vital part of the company and had a role in plans for the.
My lifesaving treatment was successful because of research carried out into this and other cancers, in part funded by this charity. The name spondon is derived from the old english spon meaning chip, shaving or shingle and dun for a hill. British celanese chemical works, spondon, uk urbex behind. The heanor and district omnibus company was formed by group of local bus and coach operators in the spring of 1934. The new route and the old joined immediately west of spondon, which was to remain a junction station until 1969, when the original, more northerly, connection to derby was closed as a through route. The name spondon is anglosaxon and describes a gravelly hill. Alternatively, kinchbus operates a bus from loughborough. We are a group of like minded members who help each other with research into family trees and genealogy. The name of spondon is derived from the anglosaxon words spon meaning gravel, woodchip or shingle and dune meaning hill, giving us spondune as a gravelly hill. Basically this place made cellulose acetate as well as acetic acid and various synthetic fabrics. At his meeting with union representatives on 24 july, courtaulds chairman, mr. In 1912, they set up cellonit gesellschaft dreyfus and co in basel, switzerland. In 1923 the company name was changed to british celanese ltd, a contraction of cellulose and ease. In 1958 courtaulds takes over and then in 1998 dutch giant akzo nobel acquires.
Memories of spondon a short account of spondon past. Situated four miles east of derby, spondon s history can be traced back to the doomsday book. History the name spondon is anglosaxon and describes a gravelly. Sports club, an occupational club run by the employees of the british celanese chemical company at spondon, derbyshire. The company was not called british celanese until 1923 despite the firm being established in 1916. Following the death of his brother and cofounder, henri dreyfus in 1945. Celanese emulsions pension plan trustees limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. Mr heaths piece forms part of a new book, cowritten with alan hunt, which looks at the.
British celanese, spondon im not going to bore anyone with the history of this place as i know youll just skip it and look at the photos. With the forthcoming closure of most of our site we have a. Spondon railway station serves spondon in derby, england. If you would like us to post a copy of any of the books, either in the uk or abroad, please email email protected for further details. Spondon holds a small number of chain shops but continues to support the business of many independent tradespeople too, including a mens barbers, a gift shop and a sweet shop. Other members of our spondon gang already worked at rolls royce and other local factories. Soon there were chassis for 250cc and 350cc machines, culminating in germanys martin wimmer winning the 1982 british 250cc gp championship on a spondon framed yamaha. The current derwent power station was built on the site of the former spondon power stations. By 1930 it was competing as british celanese bowls club, the green being located at holme lane, near to the celanese works. The company was established to produce cellulose acetate dope, a substance used to stiffen the fabrics stretched over airframes and make them airtight and watertight. From 1298 until 1522, the hall was in the hands of the twyfords of kirk langley, who inherited it from the first and last lord pipard, a descendant of the fitzralphs, a younger line of the. After more than a year of filming and preparation, the documentary about the history and heritage of the celanese site as it approaches 100 years of manufacturing in spondon.