Hedley's Soapworks - Trafford Park c.1952
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Hedley's Soapworks - Trafford Park c.1952 by Ronald Searle as part of the Geograph project.
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Hedley's Soapworks - Trafford Park c.1952
Image: © Ronald Searle Taken: Unknown
The former Trafford Park, Manchester factory of soap manufacturer Thomas Hedley Ltd whose company was based in Newcastle upon Tyne. As well as the plant at Trafford Park, another was at West Thurrock, near Grays, Essex. Founded in 1837, the company was known for its brand name Fairy soap, and the washing powder Oxydol. After the company was acquired by Proctor & Gamble in 1930, other brands were introduced that included the washing powders Daz and Tide. Considerable expansion of the 10 acre site occurred during the 1930s which entailed the acquisition of a further 5 acres. A pipe bridge was also constructed to bring oil from ships berthed on the north side of the Manchester Ship Canal. I suspect the signboard on the left gate pier is an old air raid shelter sign, its painted direction arrow indicator was fairly ubiquitous for civil shelters during the Second World War. Since this photo was taken the factory has been demolished, and a whole new landscape of industrial buildings now occupies the site.
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Image Location
Latitude
53.477837
Longitude
-2.323305