Worker with great pipes in powerhouse basement , ICI Wilton , 1955

The vast ICI plants at Billingham and Wilton on Tees-side employed 30,000 people and were showcases of the new industrial Britain. ICI opened its huge chemical complex at Wilton on Tees-side in 1952 after four years work. Wilton included a 4000 ton nylon polymer unit as well as Hydrogen and ammonia. Later Wilton became the main plant for Terylene production. Photograph by Walter Nurnberg who Photograph by Walter Nurnberg who transformed industrial photography after WWII using film studio lighting techniques.