iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Jude Wilde

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 · 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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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

These beauties look like they could do some damage. May take up piercing as a side hustle once they come off display! #museumfun #illdoitforfree

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Think I’ve got some tidying up to do :)

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

I walked 10k steps in this one room :)

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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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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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

The sun was our friend today on the hazlehurstart snap and social. Friends old and new - a great start to the year @thegladsatsuma #spikeisland #futureflower #runcorn #widnes

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

open.substack.com/pub/judewild...

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Very lucky to be invited to 49 Belgrave Square last night, the home of Her Excellency Mariana Plaza, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Great Britain. Should have stayed over instead of getting the train back. Definitely not a night owl - no stamina :)

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

‘Take your mongoose to work’ day today (don’t ask!) #trainingdays #peterpanstatue

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Very civilised day spent #runcorntownhall to mark the 25th anniversary of #runcornhistoricalsociety - enough cake to lay us low for days but we powered on through! Honoured to visit the Mayors Parlour. Fave items the #widnesmarket bell from 1875 and driving handle from the #transporterbridge

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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

Motor racing gets the ICI logo ... in 1992

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Mobile cyanotypes and walking my friends dog. Perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Halton Heritage Partnership @haltonhp.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

#ThrowbackThursday Photograph showing wagon belonging to the United Alkali Company, outside Sullivan's offices (later Pilkington Sullivan). The products on display are ones packed by Greenbank Works c1920. Also - here are some women workers from Greenbank Works! haltonheritage.co.uk/object-detai...

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

A dry run (walk) on the route @thegladsatsuma is planning as @hazlehurstart participates in the Big Film Photowalk in Runcorn on Sat 28 June for the second year running. Spoiler alert - we may be taking the path of the old locks via Bridgewater House amongst other places :) #analoguephotography

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

This morning’s walk across the bridge accompanied by curses for not realising the MOT was out on my car by a mere 6 weeks :)

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Lovely #snapandsocial walk with @hazlehurstart.bsky.social and @thegladsatsuma.bsky.social today in #runcorn taking in the new Dukesfield murals and #wiggisland - a perfect day for it too!

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

What an absolute joy it is to see this project by #reconnectingruncorn come to fruition. A fantastic day seeing the creation of the murals and listening to the artists Aylo Nomad and Liam Bononi talk so passionately about their work. #murals #runcorn #dukesfield

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

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

Rescued! Read about the adventures of archive rescue :) open.substack.com/pub/judewild...

open.substack.com

Weston Point - the end is nigh!

5. Can it be done?

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker aka 'Mother of the Sea' - Without her Sushi would not exist (probably)!! #womeninscience

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Charcoal drawing of women workers Greenbank Works ICI Pilkington Sullivan, Widnes by #brianflanagan. 1 of 4 sketches by him in our collection. Also a photo of women workers making the caustic soda tins. Note the shoes! - these were eventually replaced with safety boots! #iciarchives #womenworkers

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Lovely photo of the Ladies of ICI Winnington Research Dept staff Christmas Party 1934 - Misses B Trampleasure, A Buckley, N Goodier, M Thomas, E Baldwin, Seymour, Smith. Eva Penny, E Shaw, O Kettle, Ida McGorty and Jessie Pye #iciarchives #winningtonresearch #staffxmasparty

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

How enjoyable is an unsorted bag of photos! Occasional ones are even named! Here is the Pilkington Sullivan Ladies Cricket Team of 1953 to be going on with #pilkingtonsullivan #ladiescricket #iciarchives

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

At Runcorn Station 8.30 pm. Waiting room locked. Paying passengers on the platform - station cat (Clive) with special access all areas pass #brokenbritain #stationcats

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Look at this beauty - a Pfaff hobby 350p and to think I left the charity shop, albeit briefly before hastening back having come to my senses. What projects lie ahead :)

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Lovely photo of the model that became Brunner House in Northwich. State of the art building - made to be converted into a hospital should we go to war again. Built to house 750 staff as a HQ. Alas now a housing estate #brunnerhouse #icibrunnerhouse #icinorthwich #alkalidivision

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

If you see this repost with something red from your gallery. It's a disease #sewingprojects

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Colour postcard from Widnes Promenade showing the construction of the Runcorn-Widnes bridge in 1961 (later the Silver Jubilee Bridge)

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Hey folks! New @ee full fibre broadband has arrived at Barbers Lane courtesy of #btopenreach - quite without permission. They stormed our building, drilled through a gas pipe and nearly killed us all - but hey, it only takes a second to upload a selfie. #truestory

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Jude Wilde @heyjudewilde.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

That’s my kinda spreadsheet :)

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Reposted by Jude Wilde

Catalyst Museum @catalystarchives.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

This Ludwig Mond Statuette is in the National Portrait Gallery (bought by them in 1996). Shame he's not spending his days in miniature with his old pal John Brunner in our museum! At least they're both being cared for. #johnbrunner #ludwigmond #brunnermond

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