Chemical Works
Unfortunately the we don’t have a date for this view of Stowmarket Chemical Works.
On this day 1866.
ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held at the Crown Inn, before F.B. Marriott, Esq., Coroner, on the body of John Keble, aged 39, a bricklayer employed at the Chemical Works. The evidence, which was extensive, indicated that on Friday morning, the deceased was engaged in placing fire-bricks into a new column or flue, approximately 2 ft. high and 4 ft. in diameter, open at the top. A 2 ft. pipe runs from the sulphuric acid chamber to the bottom of two old columns, and to this new one, directing the nitric acid gas to these points. The deceased was lowered into the column in a basket, with no fresh air reaching him except from the top, while nitric acid gas was entering this column from the sulphuric acid chamber. The deceased descended for about twenty minutes at seven in the morning and did not return until half-past eleven. Mr. Murray, the manager, saw him then, and the deceased reported that the gas was very bad. Mr. Murray advised the deceased to block the pipe with manure bags and not to descend again until the gas had cleared. However, after taking a break for some beer, the deceased went down the column again and remained until he went home for dinner. When he left, he was so affected by the gas that he had difficulty walking. Upon reaching home, he went to bed, and in the afternoon, his wife sought medicine from Mr. Harper’s surgery. His condition worsened, and Mr. Harper was summoned at about two o’clock on Saturday morning, but it was too late for medical intervention, and he passed away at seven o’clock. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental death,’ with a request to Messrs. Thomas Prentice and Co. to ensure that every possible precaution is taken at the factory in the future to make the manufacturing of acids as harmless as possible to human life. The deceased had been employed at the factory for twelve years and is survived by a widow and four children.
Sources: Photo: The Des Codd Collection: S.L.H.G Archives.
Information: Bury Street Press.
Researcher: Darren. Posted on Facebook and retrieved 2024
An advert for Prentice Bros of Stowmarket was published in Whites of 1874.
Ena Carter copied this trade mark of the Prentice Bros from p587 of 1885 Whites. The entry read Prentice Bros. manufacturers of dissolved bones, superphophates & special manures, Chemical works
In 1879 P.O. Directory we read Prentice Brothers, chemical manufacturers, chemical works & at Ipswich.
Prentice Thomas & Co, Malsters & corn merchants, manufacturers of asphalte floors, pavements etc: & at Ipswich; & Subscription Rooms , Sedling Lane, London.
Orlando Whistlecraft’s Almanac of 1876 alo carried a full page advert.
On this day 1891.
BARLEY COMPETITION — Messrs. Prentice Brothers’ ANNUAL Barley Competition, where the enterprising firm offered three valuable cash prizes for the best sample of barley grown in the Eastern Counties using their celebrated manure, was concluded last Thursday. The gentlemen who kindly served as judges were: Alfred Cressy, Merchant, Framlingham; Mr. Spencer Rix, Merchant, Lingwood; and Mr. John Hy. Wrinch, Merchant. The first prize of £20 was awarded to Mr. William W. Eastaugh of Sudbourn, Wickham Market, for his splendid barley grown on light soil using Webb’s Golden Grain; the preceding crop was swedes. This sample also took second prize at the Brewers’ Exhibition in the Ale Class. The second prize of £15 went to Mr. Bridges of Stowlanftoft, Bury St. Edmunds, with the seed sown being Kinver Chevallier, grown on mixed soil; the preceding crop was wheat. The third prize of £10 was secured by F. J. Robinson of Mendlesham, Stonham, with the barley grown on mixed heavy soil from Hallett’s Pedigree seed; the preceding crop was beet and swedes. The entries were numerous. The 20 samples will be exhibited at Prentice’s stand, No 213. in the Brewers’ Gallery, at the Smithfield Club Show, in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N., from Monday next to Friday (inclusive). This information may be of interest to our readers who may be visiting the show. (From Stowmarket Local History Group Archives, from Bury Free Press uploaded to facebook by D. Dorday 2024)
