Author Archives: swanny

If it wasn’t fatal explosions killing their own staff and gassing local Oldbury residents , it was of course their dire pollution record and this lasting legacy that defines Albright and Wilson. I have dealt previously with their toxic trail … Continue reading →

Strike a light! In March 1967 an explosion at the cursed Trinity Street plant killed another of their hapless workforce. The early report in the Birmingham Daily Post of 4th March reported an explosion that rocked the town. It was … Continue reading →

This post deals with another fatal explosion at the Albright and Wilson factory in Langley, this time from 1951. This year was of course the much celebrated “centenary year” of the enterprise between the two chemical proprietors. The Yorkshire Evening … Continue reading →

  The Albright and Wilson factory site at Langley is regarded by some misguided individuals as a “heritage” site- usually those who were or are involved within the chemical industry themselves and believe that in some way we should all … Continue reading →

After drawing attention to the mystery surrounding the sudden deaths of healthy birds on this chemical “hazardous waste” lagoon in the late 90’s, some articles appeared in the Express and Star newspaper concerning this and the eventual direct link with … Continue reading →

You can’t keep a bad smell down- especially if it involves Albright and Wilson and their polluting phosphorus fun factory. In this archive piece from The Birmingham post from 28th May 1968 via The British newspaper archive,  we learn from … Continue reading →

Was the Tividale trickster “gender fluid”  or just trying it on with the law? I always had my doubts about Mr Sydney Sheldon, he of the ruining of Barnett’s brickworks fame into a commercial free for all tip come flogging off of parcels … Continue reading →

  Another interesting piece I have stumbled upon comes from 10th April 1958 Birmingham Daily Post- just 9 days after the local concern about the rattlechain waste and its effects on human health. This concerns the named foreman Ernest Sulley, … Continue reading →

  Another explosive revelatory newspaper article has come to light from Tuesday 1st April 1958 Birmingham Daily Post. The headline “Tividale ‘Up in Arms’ over smell from tip” is certainly no April fool, but just further confirmation that this site … Continue reading →

THE NOTORIOUS RATTLECHAIN LAGOON For many years I had heard the stories from many unconnected people- and they couldn’t all have been mistaken in remembering daydreams from childhood or early adulthood. Rattlechain lagoon the former marlhole that had once served the … Continue reading →