The Dyes--story of the chemical manufacturing site in Grangemouth, Scotland over 1919 to 2019

In 2019 I wrote a new history book about the Earls Road site, (formerly an ICI, Zeneca and Scottish Dyes site) in Grangemouth, central Scotland entitled The Dyes. It was produced in support of a good cause, the local charity: the Grangemouth Heritage Trust whose volunteers run the heritage centre at 13A La Porte Precinct in the town.. All proceeds from the sale of the book benefited solely the Trust. The book and this presentation cover the origins and growth of a once great dye-making company, many extraordinary events of the last 100 years and developments to the current day.
Using the original sources that I had uncovered and partly recalled by those who were there, I summarize in a non- technical way, the wider history of making new colours and chemical products and how this one site fits within the broader landscape of industrial , technical and economic developments in Grangemouth, Scotland, Britain and occasionally the wider world. The book was something of a personal journey of discovery, centered around the Earls Road site over the last 100 years with a focus on the early years before it is all lost and forgotten.
My main motivation was to help celebrate those 100 years between 1919 and 2019 of continuous operation. Sir James Morton who foundered the site was proud of its achievements; its innovations and people. Many of those working on the site today or in the community may be unaware of the history, but they, as well as the generations that went before, can be proud of its heritage. Inevitably, much the book was concerned with the owners, technologists and former managers of the site. There were many other workers of course while often nameless, are hardly less important and should be remembered -so I dedicated the work to everyone who worked on site over the last 100 years and served in a variety of ways.
John Blackie

[@watsonajd]

Hi John, be great to meet and have a coffee. Thanks for getting this together, really amazing. Alistair

[@lastinline4678]

thanks for your comment . I wrote this book to celebrate the 100 years anniversary of the site , second edition avaible via Amazon books : www.amazon.co.uk/Dyes-Scotlands-dyestuff-manufacturing-Grangemouth/dp/B0CH2B7B9L/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XUO1F6YZBWAW&keywords=the+dyes+john+blackie&qid=1707551646&s=books&sprefix=the+dyes+john+blackie+%2Cstripbooks%2C565&sr=1-1

[@watsonajd]

John - I'm MD of Stakam Ltd., you can contact me via the website. Thanks Alistair

[@watsonajd]

Bought the book John, would you sign for me? 😊

[@lastinline4678]

thanks for buying the book and supporting the Heritage centre. I hope you find it interesting . Where are you located these days ? John