History:
Located on a 175 acre site in Castleford, England, Hickson & Welch was an organic fine chemicals producer and contract manufacturer focused on agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, pigments, explosives and detergents. During the 90's a huge explosion killed 5 workers and this contributed to the eventual demise of the site. The works were sold in 2003 to a Private equity company who promised to keep the plant open and assured unions there would be no job losses. As soon as the contract was signed they sacked all 300 employees, asset stripped the company and sold the site to a developer. The wheldon lane area is planned to be renovated in the next few years including the old Nestle site over the road a number of up to 1000 house's is rumored to be built.
My visit:
Decided to head down here as its only a ten minute walk from my house. Entrance was surprisingly easy and after a hour or so climbing up and down catwalks and ducking in and out of buildings we finally caught a glimpse of secca coming towards us in a 4x4! after jumping for cover behind some barrels we held our breath as he slowly rolled past us, the moment seemed like a lifetime! after this we decided it was time to leave and legged it
Not much remains at this site a few buildings with offices and some old pipes, unsure as to what the live site that seemed to be directly next to it is but it made for a few nice pics. also popped into the old nestle building over the road and snapped a pic off the roof of my hometown.
view from office block at Nestle over the road:
Thanks for reading
Located on a 175 acre site in Castleford, England, Hickson & Welch was an organic fine chemicals producer and contract manufacturer focused on agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, pigments, explosives and detergents. During the 90's a huge explosion killed 5 workers and this contributed to the eventual demise of the site. The works were sold in 2003 to a Private equity company who promised to keep the plant open and assured unions there would be no job losses. As soon as the contract was signed they sacked all 300 employees, asset stripped the company and sold the site to a developer. The wheldon lane area is planned to be renovated in the next few years including the old Nestle site over the road a number of up to 1000 house's is rumored to be built.
My visit:
Decided to head down here as its only a ten minute walk from my house. Entrance was surprisingly easy and after a hour or so climbing up and down catwalks and ducking in and out of buildings we finally caught a glimpse of secca coming towards us in a 4x4! after jumping for cover behind some barrels we held our breath as he slowly rolled past us, the moment seemed like a lifetime! after this we decided it was time to leave and legged it
Not much remains at this site a few buildings with offices and some old pipes, unsure as to what the live site that seemed to be directly next to it is but it made for a few nice pics. also popped into the old nestle building over the road and snapped a pic off the roof of my hometown.
view from office block at Nestle over the road:
Thanks for reading
