Visited with @BrainL
The Visit
We had visited the site earlier in the year but was unsuccessful in getting in due to being spotted by security as soon as we got on the site. This time we were far more successful as a fair bit of climbing was required and involved us being very stealthy as security were still active but we were able to get in and out between his rounds and spotted him going into the grounds as we were leaving *phew*.
The site is absolutely huge and is both intimidating and breathtaking at the same time
The History
Founded by a couple of chaps named John Brunner and Ludwig Mond in 1973 they began producing soda ash about a year later. They used brine solution, ammonia and limestone to produce sodium carbonate in pure form. I understand that at its peak the factory produced 200,000 tons of soda ash a year meaning that the Brunner Mond company became the largest producer of the product in the country and the worlds largest alkali exporter. Wallerscote island Works was completed in 1926. the construction consists of silos and huge metal sheds although all were integral parts of the original structure. The company later became part of ICI which is now owned by Tata. Sodium Carbonate is a widely used in industry for casting and glass making. It is commonly used in chemistry as a base and an electrolyte. It is also used domestically in detergents, dyes and toothpaste as well as tasty sherbet sweets!
(copied from another thread)
The Visit
We had visited the site earlier in the year but was unsuccessful in getting in due to being spotted by security as soon as we got on the site. This time we were far more successful as a fair bit of climbing was required and involved us being very stealthy as security were still active but we were able to get in and out between his rounds and spotted him going into the grounds as we were leaving *phew*.
The site is absolutely huge and is both intimidating and breathtaking at the same time
The History
Founded by a couple of chaps named John Brunner and Ludwig Mond in 1973 they began producing soda ash about a year later. They used brine solution, ammonia and limestone to produce sodium carbonate in pure form. I understand that at its peak the factory produced 200,000 tons of soda ash a year meaning that the Brunner Mond company became the largest producer of the product in the country and the worlds largest alkali exporter. Wallerscote island Works was completed in 1926. the construction consists of silos and huge metal sheds although all were integral parts of the original structure. The company later became part of ICI which is now owned by Tata. Sodium Carbonate is a widely used in industry for casting and glass making. It is commonly used in chemistry as a base and an electrolyte. It is also used domestically in detergents, dyes and toothpaste as well as tasty sherbet sweets!
(copied from another thread)
