Monument record 4241/0/1 - United Alkali Co Chemical Works

United Alkali chemical works in Widnes operating during the Great War producing Ammonium Nitrate and Acetone. It produced the Acetone by the destructive distillation of wood, and was remote from the supply plant in contrast to earlier Acetone factories. The Acetone was used as a solvent for the production of Cordite MD and other products such as tear gas. Exact position is not known (1). It is possibly the Marsh Alkali Works [CSMR: 4241/4/0], however there are many chemical works marked on the historical OS maps for the area.

<1> W D Cocroft, 2000, Dangerous Energy - The Archaeology of Gunpowder and Military Explosives Manufacture (Book). SCH4464.