Sited on the banks of the River Wyre, business first started back in the Victorian era when the discovery of million of tons of rock salt under the river led to an enterprising group to form the Fleetwood Salt Company. That was in 1890.
It became ICI in 1926 and through industrial growth during the following decades, additional plants were added to site. By the post war era, ICI was a giant industry. These photos are a snapshot of the workforce during its heyday
1.
Process workers at ICI in 1983
2.
An undated photo of ICI firefighters who worked ‘C’ shift. Pictured from left are Alan Mullaney, Thomas Sandham, Stephen Simms, Russell Britton, Jim Parkinson and Eric Fogg
3.
Process worker John Anderton and plant shop steward Charlie Taylor in 1983
4.
Handling a mountain of paperwork during a relocation of parts of Fluropolymers at ICI are Alison Atkinson, Gail Simpson, Jane Marshall and Sarah Metherell
5.
Willem Prinselaar presses the button at Welvic Plastics Plant at ICI to start production on plastic for double glazed units in 1984. With him are Steve Riley, Barry Livingstone, Keith Engstrom, Derek Ashworth and Eric Thompson
6.
ICI hosted a weekend of centenary celebrations in 1990 to show 15,000 visitors around the site. Twins Kaylee and Dean Stockwell, of Fleetwood are pictured receiving sticks of rock from ICI’s two mini robots