Building    From 1859  To 1868

Atlas Dyeworks

Categories: Industry, Science

The Simpson, etc. plaque commemorates the Dyeworks which were at Victory Place 1859 - 68. This page refers to that site but also refers to the Hackney Dyeworks to which Atlas expanded. The photo shows the buildings in Hackney, not Victory Place, of which we can find no image.

Following the work done with synthetic aniline dyes by Perkin (discovery of mauve in 1856) the chemists, Maule and Nicholson, working in Simpson's Victory Place laboratory in 1859, created a dye with a red-purple colour which they called "roseine". The firm began manufacturing it and in 1860 it was renamed "magenta" after the Battle of Magenta, 1859. A commercial success.

In 1868 Maule and Nicholson retired and the firm became Brooke, Simpson & Spiller.

From Homunculus we learn: "In 1873 William Perkin sold his dye company to ... Brooke, Simpson and Spiller."

The RSC Historical Group Newsletter, February 2010, says "... the dyeworks soon outgrew the Victory Place site, and a bigger workplace was built at Hackney, with a research block, a tall central chimney and a giant Atlas figure proudly proclaiming aloft their successful pioneering venture." In 1987 The Hackney Society lists The Atlas Works, Berkshire Road, as a "building at risk". That source says it was built in 1863 and that in 1983 part of it was demolished, including the frontage "topped by a large stone statue of Atlas."

1910-58 the Atlas Works was occupied by The British Patent Perforated Paper Company, one of the first British companies to manufacture continuous and perforated toilet paper, Bronco.

CgMs, an archaeological desk-based assessment, is a planning report which includes the history of the area. It contains a various maps etc. which make it clear that Atlas Works was on the northern half of the block contained by Berkshire Road, Wallis Road, the River Lea Navigation and an unnamed access road.

We can discover nothing about the fate of Atlas himself.

And next door to the Atlas works was the Parkesine factory.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Atlas Dyeworks

Commemorated ati

Bronco toilet paper

Bronco, the first perforated toilet paper, was developed here. The firm origi...

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Simpson, Maule and Nicholson

The rather odd wording of the plaque is explained by an item in the RSC Histo...

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Other Subjects

Sir Henry Wellcome

Sir Henry Wellcome

Born Wisconsin, USA, moved to London in 1880 for business reasons. Pharmacist, founder of the Wellcome Trust and Foundation. His collection of books & artefacts relating to the history of medic...

Person, Benefactor, Industry, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, USA

1 memorial
Elkington & Co.

Elkington & Co.

Founded by the brothers George and Henry Elkington in Birmingham. In 1840 they were the first to patent a method that used an electric current to coat an item in a  thin layer of metal (normally si...

Group, Industry

1 memorial
Grunwick workers strike

Grunwick workers strike

Grunwick was a photographic film processing firm. 90% of its employees were either of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin and working conditions were oppressive. Following the sacking of an employee for...

Event, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

3 memorials
Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden

Political economist and Liberal MP. Born near Midhurst, Sussex, into a large and very poor family. One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition. Spoke repeatedly to Parliament against war with...

Person, Industry, Politics & Administration, France

5 memorials

Previously viewed

Ridley & Moulding

Ridley & Moulding

Trader at Covent Garden Market at its original site.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Turk's Head Charity

Turk's Head Charity

From the Picture source website: "The Turk’s Head was bought from the Council and renovated by our charity in 1992. Now it provides a café and affordable workspace and the rental income pays our ch...

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

2 memorials
Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton

Children's writer. Born Enid Mary Blyton at 354 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Best known for creating the character of Little Noddy and the 'Famous Five' stories. Her works have been translated into...

Person, Children, Literature, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
Thomas Woodward & Sons

Thomas Woodward & Sons

Brewers. They took over the Clapham Brewery, changing its name to ‘The Plough’ which was the same as the brewery they had run in Kennington. The railings at the front of the building bear the initi...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Doctor Harold Moody

Doctor Harold Moody

Physician. Born Harold Arundel Moody at 8 Rum Lane, Kingston, Jamaica. Although well qualified, he was refused a post at King's College Hospital because of his colour, but became a medical superint...

Person, Medicine, Race Issues, Jamaica

2 memorials