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Description: | John Lee, of Alston, and his nephew Hugh Lee-Pattinson, created the Felling Chemical Works between Green Lane and Brewery Lane. It was one of the largest firms to operate in Heworth Township (Felling). It was founded in 1833 with George Burnett as another partner. It covered 11 acres, increasing to 17 acres in 1848. Besides the furnaces, lead chambers, filtering sheds and laboratories, there was a large cooperage, a joinery, a plumber’s shop, and a complete iron works. The iron works made half chauldron wagons, for the works own railway, to transport materials. The railway was laid in a tunnel arched with bricks, leading to the firm’s quay at Felling Shore. The firm even manufactured its own bricks in an old brick works on its land, selling any of the surplus. In the 1850s, the factory and workmen’s houses close by were lit by gas produced by the works. Soda crystals, caustic soda, bleach and Epsom Salts were manufactured in the works. Weardale and Pennine lead was also treated, with hydrochloric acid, to obtain white and red lead for paint. Hugh Lee-Pattinson was a metallurgical chemist. In 1833, he patented his method for extracting silver from lead, a process later used worldwide. He opened his own Washington Chemical Works in 1837. This was sold to R.S. Newall in 1872. A school for Felling Chemical Works was opened on 11th August 1845. It later became St. John the Baptist R.C. School. | Format: | image/jpeg | License: | http://www.asaplive.com/Lco/Lco.cfm?ccs=629&cs=2674&Preview=1 | Publisher: | Gateshead Council | Rights holder: | Gateshead Council | Subjects: | Chemical industry | Source: | iSee Gateshead | Creator: | Unknown | Identifier: | http://isee.gateshead.gov.uk/detail.php?... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | image/jpeg | Go to resource |
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