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Report - - Celanese Acetate, Spondon (Various Visits) - 2014/15 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Celanese Acetate, Spondon (Various Visits) - 2014/15

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SpiderMonkey

BrushMonkey
Staff member
Moderator
Demolition here is well underway and it won't be long until all of the disused areas are just waste, and I'm pretty sad to see this go really, I can't even count how many times I've been, just to go and see if i can find anything new and sadly, most of the best parts are now gone.

Pretty much every visit with @AndyK /Behind Closed Doors.

A quality place altogether, plenty to see.

History:

The origins of the company lie with two brothers, Henri and Camille Dreyfus. In 1912 they set up "Cellonit Gesellschaft Dreyfus and Co" in Basel, Switzerland. In 1916 the brothers were invited to live in Britain by the British Government, to produce their recently developed cellulose acetate dope for the war effort; the canvas skins of aircraft of the time were sealed and made taut with nitrocellulose dope, which was easily ignited by bullets. They developed the necessary plant and "British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Co" was registered on March 18, 1916. The British Government patented the process developed by Henri Dreyfus, which lowered the costs of acetic anhydride production, an important reagent in the production of cellulose acetate. At the end of World War I, the British Government cancelled all contracts and the company changed to produce acetate fibres. In 1923 the company name was changed to British Celanese Ltd, a contraction of cellulose and ease. 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.

British Celanese was the first factory in Britain to produce propylene and from it isopropyl alcohol and acetone in 1942.

Clarifoil production developed out of cellulose acetate yarn technology. Clarifoil full-scale production commenced from 1947.

Henri Dreyfus died in 1944. Camille Dreyfus died in 1956.

In 1957, British Celanese was taken over by Courtaulds. The site is now operated by Celanese.

The plant finally closed after the last shift on Wednesday 14th November 2012.

Pics:

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Couple from the night visit:

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Cheers for looking.​
 

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Speed

Got Epic Slow?
Regular User
Sad to see it dissappearing it's one of my top 10 places ever I think. People are so stupid for not going there more often!

Every report there's a new bit to see. Control room looks very dated!
 

SpiderMonkey

BrushMonkey
Staff member
Moderator
Sad to see it dissappearing it's one of my top 10 places ever I think. People are so stupid for not going there more often!

Every report there's a new bit to see. Control room looks very dated!

I do have a hell of a lot more photos around somewhere. Must have spent the equivalent of a month inside this site with our @AndyK and definitely one of our favourite sites, sort of became a project for us both. Lots of good memories here :)
 

Speed

Got Epic Slow?
Regular User
Did you do any of the buildings right at the front of site? Offices canteen etc. That's the bit I missed. (although it may still be there)
 

SpiderMonkey

BrushMonkey
Staff member
Moderator
Did you do any of the buildings right at the front of site? Offices canteen etc. That's the bit I missed. (although it may still be there)
The very front buildings.. We went in a few on half of the front side of the site, but not the other. I think those last few front ones are still there though, may go for a last look soon.
 
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