epw042033 ENGLAND (1933). Nelson's Silk Works on the River Lune, Lancaster, 1933

Nelson Acetate was set up as a joint company by Courtaulds Limited and the Lancaster Silk Company Limited to produce cellulose acetate flake for the production of acetate fibres. Courtaulds wanted to reduce the stranglehold on the UK, European and Empire markets that British Celanese had. Acetate was challenging the domination that Courtaulds had with viscose at this time. Whilst viscose was cheaper, and on the market over ten years before acetate, it was not of the same quality as acetate, and during the 20's British Celanese was eating into Courtaulds sales.

Courtaulds encouraged Lancaster Silk Directors to set up an acetate production plant at the same time as Courtaulds, in the belief that more than one UK competitor would eat into Celanese sales, and that having a joint cellulose flake production facility would reduce costs below those of British Celanese. This did not happen, the large production of cellulose flake at Spondon meant that its costs would remain cheaper.



Looking at the date of this photo suggests to me that this makes the caption and date on EPW002091 Cellulose Silk Works Lancaster 1920 appear to be incorrect in that they would not have been producing acetate fibres then, 1920.

The Nelson site was called the 'Hercules' works.

When, through take-overs and buy-outs, Courtaulds owned all the acetate production in the UK (in the 50's and 60's) the 'Hercules' works was closed down and all production was centred on Spondon. Some equipment was removed to Spondon to produce special grades of flake for the acetate film department at Spondon.

Looking at the photo above I would suggest that production had only recently started.