Castlepark
Primary School (pictured) P7 pupils
chose to adopt The Blue Billie Bing as their local heritage topic in
2013-14. They investigated businessman William Henderson,
who established the chemical works, a major source
of employment - which produced this waste heap. A podcast records their
interview
with the ghost of William Henderson. Congratulations
to the team (and their teacher) for creating such an imaginative item
from a very technical topic - it is clear that they enjoyed finding
out more about the man and his achievements.
For further information:
Return to People and Places
Interview with William Henderson, by Castlepark Primary School
Presenter Molly Alexander: Hi, and welcome to today's
special issue of "All About Irvine". We are
really lucky to have the ghost of William Henderson in our studio.
First of all, thank you for visiting us today - I know haunting is a
busy occupation and we appreciate you taking the time to visit us. We'd
like to ask you a few questions about your time spent in Irvine and
your contribution to the chemical industry.
So, William, where and when were you born?
Wm
Henderson (using Scott Gibson's vocal chords): Thank you for having
me here today. I was born in Glasgow - 1827.
P: Could you tell us a bit about your involvement in the development
of the chemical industry?
WH: I led the industry by developing a new process called the
'wet process'.
P: Sounds interesting. Please tell us more?
WH: Of course. In the 1860s there was a rise in the UK of the
consumption of sulphuric acid, which meant industries had to find alternatives
to the sulphur source. Many manufacturers turned to pyrites as their
new source of sulphur. Pyrites are sometimes known as fool's gold and
I developed the wet process to extract copper from those pyrites.
P: Fascinating. Tell us more about this wet process.
WH: The wet process is a 3-stage process. It involved burning
off the sulphur from the pyrites. This had to be carried out by acid
manufacturers. They added salt to make the copper soluble which is then
leached from the pyrites.
P: Was this process popular?
WH: It most certainly was. So much that by 1870 there were 20
wet process works in Britain.
P: I understand you had a fall-out with your partner Sir Charles
Tennant.
WH: Yes, we quarrelled and I set up my own. That was when I decided
to set up my new factory in Irvine.
P: Whereabouts in Irvine were you based?
WH: It was on Henderson's Wharf, on Irvine harbour, where ships
from Spain, England and Ireland were unloaded.
[Note: they brought iron from Spain, salt from Cheshire and limestone
from Ireland.]
P: I understand you were a keen inventor.
WH: Yes. I used the waste from iron oxide and local sand to make
glass and cement. I also experimented in making cement railway sleepers.
P: Was your business a success?
WH: Yes. I named it Henderson's Works and a year later I joined
it with a second company called the Eglinton Chemical Company. I set
up a third business close by, called Irvine Chemical Works, where I
employed 140 workers.
P: Your successful business ventures allowed you to create a
beautiful home.
WH: Yes. I enlarged Williamfield on Kilwinning Road. It was once
described as 'a princely mansion' but unfortunately it has been demolished.
[Note: It was built in 1821 by the Macredie family
of Perceton.]
P: Were you involved in any community work?
WH: I was involved in various local organisations as far as my
work allowed. The local paper saw me as the next Provost. In 1881 I
was elected as President of Irvine's Burns Club.
P: Sadly you did not serve your full term as President.
WH: No, I died at age 53 leaving behind my widow Esther.
P: How do you feel you helped the local economy?
WH: In less than ten years I feel I laid the foundations for
Irvine's industrial future.
P: Finally, could you tell us a little bit about the Blue Billy
Bing?
WH: I will leave that in the capable hands of my Castlepark friends
who have been researching this specific topic.
P: Hi. We're from Castlepark Primary and we are going to tell
you a little bit of info about the Blue Billy Bing. Nowadays it's just
a hill covered with grass that everyone uses for rolling eggs down at
Easter. It's just a nice place to sit on a sunny summer day or even
just to go and look at the wonderful views. Now we are going to hand
you over to Jaimie to tell you a little bit about its origins.
Presenter 2 (Jaimie Wilson): In the 1860s the harbour and surrounding
area became an area heavily blighted by industrial waste. Even long
after some of the industries were gone, there was a waste bing known
by the locals as the Blue Billy due to the colour of waste there. The
waste was the remaining iron oxide residue. During World War Two a Royal
Corps Watchtower was situated on the Blue Billy Bing giving an overall
view of the Clyde. It's also credited with the first visual sighting
of Rudolf Hess's Messerschmitt 110 in 1941. The harbour was Hitler's
prime target for invasion of the British Isles, being a major boating
district and in near vicinity to ICI weapons development. [Note:
While ICI produced explosives, the main weapons development (and TNT
production) was at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Irvine where the Industrial
Estate is today.]
We repeat our congratulations to Castlepark P7 of spring 2014.
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