Bird's Chemical Works
Bird's Chemical Works of Duxford, Cambs.
1836 William Thurnall set up a bone-meal plant at Duxford, using water-power; later steam-power was introduced.
The business was incorporated as the Cambridge Manure Co.
1858 Charles Thurnall, son of William, took on the management.
1860 Bird Bros. acquired Cambridge Manure Co.
1892 A subsidiary, Cambridge Chemical Co., was set up to make chemicals and disinfectants.
By 1900 Birds were manufacturing bone-meal, gelatin, and glue.
1914 A disastrous fire took place
1919 the business was acquired by Eastern Counties Products Ltd - the factory remained known as Birds' Chemical Works.
1980 The works were still operating, with modern machinery, though the site is also noteworthy for the surviving boilerhouse, chimney, and a set of glue-drying tunnels.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Archives of the British chemical industry, 1750-1914: a handlist. By Peter J. T. Morris and Colin A. Russell. Edited by John Graham Smith. 1988.