Lost in time: 21 pictures exploring the remains of Castleford's abandoned Hickson and Welch chemical plant
Kara McKune
·4-min read
There are currently no plans in place to demolish the remnants of the rest of the plant. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Hickson and Welch was a chemical works located in north Castleford between the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal, close to the now disused Castleford Viaduct.
In 1893, London-born Ernest Hickson founded a company to introduce sulphur black (a sulphur dye) to the British cotton industry.
Castleford's Hickson & Welch chemical plant in 2006, the year after it closed its doors for good. (Photo: Jayne Claughton)
Ultimately, in 1915, Hickson & Partners Ltd was founded and the company moved into Castleford where they produced TNT until the end of World War One in 1918.
After this they changed to the production of dyes and the processing of acids.
In 1915, Hickson & Partners Ltd was founded and the company moved into Castleford. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Unfortunately, the plant suffered three major explosions throughout their time of operation.
In November 1926 a blast occurred while workers were packing an intermediate dye, thought to be non-explosive, where two men died.
The company has since produced wood protection, furniture coatings and organic chemicals over the years. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
On July 4, 1930, just before noon, there was a huge explosion on the site's nitration plant. It severely damaged the factory, killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others. Many neighbouring homes made uninhabitable.
Ernest Hickson later died of natural causes that same year and the company was liquidated.
Explore Castleford's famous Chemical Plant through photos taken by a Yorkshire urban explorer. (Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces)
Mr Hickson’s son Bernard and Colbeck Welch created a new company, and in 1931 'Hickson and Welch' was born, rising from the ashes.
The company produced wood protection, furniture coatings and organic chemicals over the years specialising in DDT, a pesticide, becoming the UK's largest manufacturer.
Hickson & Partners Ltd became a public company on 30 November 1951, later becoming known as Hickson International from 1985.
Ernest Hickson died later that year and the company went into liquidation. However, from the ashes, Ernest's son Bernard and Colbeck Welch created a new company, and in 1931 'Hickson and Welch' was born. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
On September 21 1992, another explosion occurred. Fire workers – four men and woman died – many more were injured in the incident which caused around £3.5m damage.
In August 2000 Hickson International plc was bought by Arch Chemicals, a chemical company.
At the time Hickson employed over 1,300 people, had assets of £73 million, and a revenue of £208 million.
In 2002, Powergen (now E.ON UK) installed a £30 million combined heat and power gas turbine power station at the site, which included a huge steam turbine.
Years later, the company was rebranded as C6 Solutions and closed in July 2005.
Since its closure, the site remained derelict for over a decade until Wakefield Council decided to start demolition.
Whilst most of the site was demolished in 2016, and the power station demolished in 2021, remnants from the once thriving business remain.
The old plant is located in north Castleford between the River Aire and the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
On 4 July 1930, just before noon, there was an explosion on the site's nitration plant. It destroyed the factory, killing 13 people and injuring 32 people. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Ernest Hickson first founded the company in 1893 to introduce sulphur black (a sulphur dye) to the British cotton industry.
The company produced TNT until the end of the First World War in 1918 (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
In August 2000 Hickson International plc was bought by Arch Chemicals. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
It became a public company on 30 November 1951, with the company becoming known as Hickson International from 1985. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Remnants of the plant remain in Castleford, with buildings now covered in graffiti and only urban explorers bravingly exploring the once thriving location. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
From 1944 the company made DDT, a pesticide, becoming the UK's largest manufacturer. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Powergen (now E.ON UK) installed a £30 million CHP gas turbine power station at the site in 2002 which was demolished in 2021.
Most of the site was finally demolished in 2016 by Wakefield Council after a decade of remaining derelict. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Five workers sadly died following an explosion and fire in 1992, which resulted in extensive damage to the Castleford plant and surrounding area. (Photo: The Wakefield Express)
At the time of being bought by ARch Chemiclas, Hickson employed over 1,300 people, had assets of £73 million, and a revenue of £208 million. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
After the war ended, the company changed to the production of dyes and the processing of acids. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
Throughout the years, over eight hundred people were employed at the Castleford site. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
The site was rebranded as C6 Solutions and officially closed in July 2005. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
The plant is also close to the now disused Castleford Viaduct. (Photo: Lost Places & Forgotten Faces)
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