iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The variety of photos that turn up in the archive - love this. No need to explain it 🙂 (There is an explanation - Electric Cable pvc Cereclor coated after test loads - Green exudation of nine samples 9 Oct 1968)

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

These newspapers were weekly and once read would have been used to light the fire in the grate. The company didn’t start saving them until Oct of that year so we now have a grand total of 2! Thank you to Ms Kolaski who took 3 buses to get to us and left this much desired edition.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

People who are proud of their family members and want to share their stories, often then going away with more than they came with! Many brought items to donate and I draw your attention to this single sheet folded newspaper - the Mond Mail from Sep 1964.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

we had a huge turnout of visitors making enquiries, identifying photographs - many seeing images of their family members that they never knew existed. Several visitors brought items to show us which is always a wonderful thing.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A most wonderful weekend at our Heritage Open Days. It’s been tradition for the last two years to celebrate the vast heritage of ICI during this event. In this centenary year of its creation 🧵

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Heritage Open Days 19&20th 10-4 FREE ENTRY Come and see extracts from our collection. HHP; ICI exhibition and display of original artwork by artist Ian Glover; Aerial photos of Runcorn, Widnes and Mid Cheshire and our Observatory will be full of as many photos of ICI that we can cram in!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Not long now! Heritage Open Days are approaching (19 and 20 Sept - Sat and Sun). This is the first batch of ICI Weston Point Studios negatives that have been chosen for display. Only 360 images of Apprentices and general headshots! Come and see they displays - free entry 10-4 each day.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

VERA lagging behind in this hot weather. Scuse her lateness but here it is. Tips for modern life in 1930 and measurements for the essential 'Holiday Beret' judewilde.substack.com/p/vera-for-i...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Our archives are very much about the 'hidden gems' and never more so than a blandly described report, thus 'Safety Belts Method of Procedure' which throws up some fantastic photos. Volunteer Sandra had typed into the file name 'interesting photos' - she was right!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This was a joy! Podcaster Ollie Guillou paid a visit to our Birth of an Industry Gallery and you can hear my interview here. His timing was perfect as our 30 year old gallery is due to be replaced thanks to a grant from the National Lottery. Give him a 'like' and 'subscribe'! pod.fo/e/41e475

pod.fo

What We Did Before: Before Chemicals: 'Bleach Packers' and the Birth of the Chemical Industry

💬 The birth of the chemical industry - one which has reshaped the course of human history - happened in a small town in England. In the 19th century, Widnes was transformed into a major centre o...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The Queen and Prince Philip visit West Bank 2 Nov 1979. One of a few short films from that Mayoral Year of Ted and Elsie Gleave. youtu.be/nospV2dTvIA

youtu.be

Med 123 Mayoral Year Royal Visit to West Bank 2 Nov 1979

YouTube video by Brunner Mond Film Archive ... at Catalyst Museum

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Playing detective today as we continue to digitise some of our taped oral histories. The clip is from a QC Manager at Bush Boake Allen and his name may possibly be Alan Grier, Greer or even Grice. It shows the importance of clear record-keeping! The recording is thought to be from 1989.

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Reposted by Catalyst Museum

Tim Grady @tlgrady68.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

So far, my travels have taken me to archives in (or associated with) Kassel, Munich, the Imperial War Museum, the Cenotaph, Stonehenge and the National Gallery and of course @catalystarchives.bsky.social 2/4

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

It's probably the only technical drawing of a 1980 dry cleaning shop you will see today! #iciarchives

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

A few photos capturing Runcorn Town Hall taken at night in 1996 - just naturally showing up in our #westonpointstudios photographic archive!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Never ceases to amaze me what treasures will emerge from the next envelope as we plough through our #westonpointstudios collection. A very pleasing slide of #liverpoolcorporationwaterworks Beeston Moss Valve House - Walksmans Cottage from 1888

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Reposted by Catalyst Museum

Halton Heritage Partnership @haltonhp.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

#ThrowbackThursday Photograph of Victoria Road, Widnes looking towards Widnes Central Station. The photograph was taken from the tower of St Paul's Church in about 1905. Looks a bit like a Lowry! From the Bob Martindale collection haltonheritage.co.uk/object-detai...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

If you wish to know in detail the hairstyles of the 1929 girl about town then this is the article for you! More petrol nonsense and a recipe for orange cake - par for the course :) judewilde.substack.com/p/vera-for-i...

judewilde.substack.com

VERA for I.C.I. Girls - Feb 1929

A fascinating look at the section of the ICI Magazine given over to women from 1928 until 1939. Hints and tips for the modern woman about town ...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

'The Big Photo Sort'. All photo negatives from our recent rescue of the Weston Point Studios. Since then 50k have already been processed and 18k are scanned (and they weren't even part of this)! Thank you to Becka, Erin, Hannah, Heather, Megan, Pam, Pat, Sandra and Tiffany who all worked so hard.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

'VERA' has been at it again. And her identity is being teased in this Christmas edition. More on the beauty contest next week when we find out who won the holiday to Switzerland! Exciting stuff! judewilde.substack.com/p/vera-for-i...

judewilde.substack.com

VERA for I.C.I. Girls - Dec 1928

A fascinating look at the section of the ICI Magazine given over to women from 1928 until 1939. Hints and tips for the modern woman about town ...

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Reposted by Catalyst Museum

Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

judewilde.substack.com/p/vera-for-i... This time a mention of actress Gladys Cooper that I just happened to have a postcard of! I wondered if she might be behind the mysterious 'Vera'. However looking at her career she'd have been too busy treading the boards :)

judewilde.substack.com

VERA for I.C.I. Girls - Nov 1928

A fascinating look at the section of the ICI Magazine given over to women from 1928 until 1939. Hints and tips for the modern woman about town ...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Amazing. [searches own archives for MS Gretna] :)

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Vera strikes again! Advice column from 1928 for the modern woman #iciarchives

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

'VERA' is up to Sep 1928 ... First and Second prizes in the beauty competition are a weeks holiday in Switzerland. ICI don't mess about! judewilde.substack.com/p/vera-for-i...

judewilde.substack.com

VERA for I.C.I. Girls - Sep 1928

A fascinating look at the section of the ICI Magazine given over to women from 1928 until 1939. Hints and tips for the modern woman about town ...

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

We've started 2026 on an excellent note with these two lovely donations! Long Service Medal with watch and chain belonging to H Forster and Illuminated Long Service Certificate for 49 years' service awarded to William Allman We look forward to finding out more about them!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Obviously these things fall in and out of favour, there was the Second World War etc. But it's still nicely completed for the following years: 1905-09; 1957-68; 1972-84; 1990-95 photo of the Weston Point team in 1949 as they seemed to win the most!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Football shield mystery! The Weston Point & District Schoolboys Competition Shield with 32 inscriptions was presented by Sir John Brunner in 1906 and the latest inscription is 1995-6. All 32 are inscribed but how did the maths work out so well given there are 90 years between first and last?!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Congratulations to Jonathan Davies on his CBE in the New Years Honours 2025. Obviously best known for appearing in one of the 'Two Wonders of Widnes' advertising campaign at our Museum in 1989. Am pleased to say the large, framed poster still adorns our museum walls!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Take me back to 1990. I'm not sure when people think of a chemical industry museum that photos of #vladivarvodka would immediately spring to mind. ICI registered the product #perspex (seen here impersonating an ice mountain) in the 1930s following it's discovery by two of its chemists. Cheers!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Our archives are a window on the past …

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Reposted by Catalyst Museum

Halton Heritage Partnership @haltonhp.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

#ThrowbackThursday Photograph of West Bank Dock in about 1965. The boat entering the dock is the 'Donau', all vessels entering the dock on flood tide had to enter stern first.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Great to see some of the original features in the theatre (this part of the building dates back to the early 1900s), which are still visible and we must be one of the greenest organisations as we still have those tables in the last photo!

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Here are some photos taken by ICI Weston Point Studios but they are of an Open Day at the Catalyst in 1993.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

When worlds collide! One of the joys of rescuing several hundred thousand negatives is not knowing what will turn up next. Not for the first time do we see the long association that chemical firms have had with our museum since its inception.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Hot off the press - the latest on ICI Weston Point Studios rescue :)

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

You never know what will appear in our #iciwestonpointstudios photographic negatives. This charming photo of a room in a Swedish designed #lundbydollshouse from 1980. The photo was taken due to the #vivelle (fabric) being manufactured by ICI #iciarchives #dollshouses

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

⭐It's Today!⭐ Join us at the Catalyst Museum for Heritage Weekend between 10 and 5. Meet our friends from Halton Heritage Partnership Explore 3 floors of ICI Weston Point Studios photographs on temporary display plus our permanent galleries and current art exhibition. Free entry.

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Very sad to see that HRH Duchess of Kent has passed away. Katharine had a long association with ICI and Brunner Mond and was the great granddaughter of Sir John Brunner. Pictured here on one of the many visits she made to the region in 1973 for the centenary of Brunner Mond

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Unexpected find on a strip of 1976 negatives today of ICI Weaver Power Station. The other 29 images are showing the wear to the turbine blades and this little gem is a moment in time where the photographer had taken a snap of the workers. They look happy in their work :)

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Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Motor racing gets the ICI logo ... in 1992

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Reposted by Catalyst Museum

Ste Lingard @stelingard.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

One of the staircases leading from the front lawns up to Marbury Hall, #Cheshire (pic my own), & an aerial image from before the hall was demolished in 1969 (pic via the Friends of Anderton & Marbury). The site has been a country park since the late 1970s - a local treasure. #StaircaseSaturday

A short, wide staircase in some slightly overgrown parkland, relict from a former country house, now demolished.

An aerial view (black and white) of Marbury Hall. From: https://foam.merseyforest.uk/?cat=20

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