Celanese was once one of Derby's biggest employers. It has closed and is now due fror demolition. At its height, the Spondon plant employed some 20,000 people. Amongst many other items it was involved in the manufacture of filter tow for use in cigarette filters.

In 1958 Courtaulds takes over and then in 1998 Dutch giant Akzo Nobel acquires a controlling interest and the company becomes known as Acordis.

In 2007 Celanese acquires the company and the name changes again, to Celanese Acetate Ltd.

Derby is famous for setting in motion Britain's Industrial Revolution with some of the countrys first factories and spinning mills. It is equally famous for later factories of Rolls Royce, Royal Crown Derby and Railway engineering. The thriving Derby City centre boasts an excellent range of entertainment venues, attractions, pubs, restaurants, parks and open spaces.

Here is a photo tour of some of the buildings and sights to be found around the Celanese site as part of a heritage project run by Andy Rokita who has created a film called "Softly Spoken" looking at the history of the plant and the people that worked here.

Please click on image to enlarge