by Dave Roberts
We're in Brooks Lane in 1973 and here we see the soon-to-be-demolished offices of Pochin (Contractors) Ltd and Contractor's Plant (North West) Ltd. This building was originally the offices of the ICI Middlewich (formerly Brunner-Mond) works and stood on the landscaped area in front of the current Pochin offices. The building is very much in the same style as the Pochin (formerly ICI) Club across the road which still exists today as the Middlewich Community Church. This slide must have been taken very shortly before demolition because I worked for Pochins for two years and served time in the new offices before moving just down the road to ERF in 1974.
UPDATE (5th August 2019)
On the 5th August 2019 Middlewich heard the news that the Pochin Group had 'collapsed' and was going into liquidation.
Just about the most unbelievable news we've ever had - Ed.
Update: 2nd July 2020:
At the start of July 2020 it was announced that a new company, CLD Fencing Services, had taken over the Pochin site, using the 1970s office building as an HQ and demolishing surplus buildings on the site to create additional parking space.
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The early 1970s Pochin office block. The original ICI office shown in our main photo was situated on the grassed area to the left of this photograph. Buildings on the other side of the access road (out of shot, to the right) were being demolished in early July 2020. (Photo: Middlewich Guardian)
NEW FIRM TO RECRUIT IN MIDDLEWICH (Guardian report)
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Geraldine Williams What happened to the Scout Hut that was in that area?
Dave Roberts It's still there, and thriving, in the area to the left of this picture but out of shot.
Geraldine Williams Oh good. We never get down Brooks Lane these days but we had to make many weekly journeys to the Scout Hut in the early 70s!
First published 15th July 2011
Updated, re-formatted and re-published 5th August 2019
Updated and re-published 2nd July 2020
Updated and re-published 2nd July 2020
When reading this article I saw reference to the former ICI Club and the Scout Hall. I remember in the mid forties our troop parading through the town pulling/pushing a hand cart with all our camping gear on it. We camped alongside the River Wheelock in an ex army Bell tent. Later, in the fifties when working at ICI as a boilermaker I used to go to the canteen in the annex of the Club to have a hot midday meal. I think it cost about a shilling.Two years after I came out to Australia in 1960 I heard that ICI had closed down.I hope it wasn't due to me leaving. LOL
ReplyDeleteyour right dave the old office came right up to the footpath which was not very wide and the door on the left was where you clocked on and off
ReplyDeleteGood post
ReplyDelete