The chemical plant dates right back to 1917, it has had various names and uses over the years – Aluminium Sulphar Limited, ISC Chemicals Limited, Alumnia Company Limited and in the final few yeas was just part of Franco-Belgian company Rhodia’s anaesthetics business and produced the anaesthetic gases halothane and isoflurane.

In 2004 Rhodia announced their intention to vacate the site in 2 years time.  Demolition was already in progress by the time of this visit.  The land was completely leveled and a new regional distribution center for ASDA was built on it, replacing the aging facilities over at Royal Portbury Docks.

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9 Comments

  • Lee, May 19, 2021 @ 00:03

    I used to work for Rhodia up until the end of 2004. I was in the IT Department, prior to being outsourced, and this was one of the sites I used to go to on a regular basis. That old office building was in a complete mess, the pipes were (and I quote) “clamps placed on clamps” to stop them leaking and the bit at the far right (as you face it) was so dilapidated that the corridor was propped up with acrow props and the old board room was covered in a thick layer of moss. The whole building was damp and not helped by the high water table which flooded a large chunk of the site in heavy rain. The powers that be had been offered a large sum of money (somewhere in the region of a couple of million) for the office site, which would’ve been more than enough to build a nice new office building at the plant entrance, but they turned it down because it had “a lot of character”.

  • Paul shoemake, December 4, 2020 @ 07:21

    Worked in the labs,then the pilot plant and finally the FA plant,1970s to 90s

  • Steve Bain, September 14, 2016 @ 01:57

    Many happy memories for sure

  • Madeleine P, November 15, 2015 @ 11:07

    Worked their until 1998, loved the job, would go back in a heart beat

  • Jackie V, April 28, 2014 @ 15:06

    Many happy memories of working there – seems like a lifetime ago now

  • avonmouth mechanic, May 30, 2013 @ 10:54

    Great photos, so much history there. It’s a shame to see such an old building go but I guess the old must make way for the new or the area will stagnate. How easy is it to get down there anyway? Despite living very near by I’ve never actually tried any exploring!

  • P.White, November 20, 2012 @ 11:54

    I “worked” there till 2008 . Great job, would go back today, for half the money!

  • velkrosmaak, August 2, 2012 @ 13:30

    Something’s going on with your image viewer script. Photos look good though, but can’t see them full size!

  • E PAGET, July 17, 2012 @ 21:14

    I USED TO WORK AT RHODIA UNTIL 2001 WELL DONE !

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