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 Hodgson & Simpson first started production in Walton near Wakefield in the 19th century. After a legal battle with Charles Waterton of Walton Hall, the company moved from Walton's Soap House Yard to Calder Island. There, they continued to manufacture soap until 1906.
© John S. Sargent.
This picture shows the soap works and Thornes Lock.
In
White's Directory, 1853, Hodgson & Simpson are shown as soap
boilers at Thornes.
Transcript
of the entry of "professions and trades" for ALVERTHORPE
(including Thornes) in White's Directory of 1887: Hodgson &
Simpson, soap mfrs. Calder Soap Works. According to The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868, artificial manures were also manufactured.
Hodgson
& Simpson's Calder Soap Works continued in production until
1906 and expanded into Liverpool and London. "Perhaps its greatest claim to fame was the gold medal
won by the firm at the Great Paris Exhibtion of 1878." (A
History of Walton by Peter
Wright). After the soap works closed it became a rope works. In the end an emerging giant, Lever Brothers, acquired the company, along with other acquisitions. Later on, Lever Brothers merged with Margarine Unie of the Netherlands to form Unilever.
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-s.jpg) View of Thornes Lock on 12th April 2010. The lock is still in use but the old buildings on Calder Island have gone. A leisure centre now stands on the site of the soap works. |
 Hodgson & Simpson's Invincible Soap. |
 This bottle of perfume is embossed "Hodgson & Simpson Wakefield", indicating that it may have originated from Calder Island. |
 Soap out, cars and leisure in.
View towards Wakefield from Denby Dale Road Canal Bridge. The soap works had a large chimney that was reduced in size in the early 1970s. Calder Island (on the right) has now been redeveloped and is home to several car showrooms, a pub and a fish and chip restaurant.
Public Right of Way Wakefield 91 runs along the towing path.
29th October 2010. |
 After all the long years that have passed since the days of Hodgson and Simpson, it is still possible to find a full bottle of Sweet May perfume.
[05 May 2011] |
 Calder Island is an island by virtue of the fact that a navigation cut was made by-passing a loop in the River Calder to link up two stretches of navigable river, all of which is part of the Calder and Hebble Navigation.
© John S. Sargent. |
 A bar of Hodgson & Simpson's Bell Brand soap - looking as formidable as an old bar of carbolic.
© John S. Sargent. |
A legacy of the soap works is the large heap of refuse called the 'Black Ash'. This is situated on the south bank of the River Calder and stretches from Denby Dale Road to the point where the river and navigation meet at the western end of Calder Island.
© John S. Sargent.
More about the Calder & Hebble Navigation here |
 A free sample from the makers of Invincible Transparent Toilet Soap.
Invincible Soap was around during the 1890s, witness this auction item:
Spinks, Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Friday 9 May 2008:
1892 envelope used locally in Derby, the front and back showing pale pink advertisement for Hodgson & Simpson's Invincible Soap (“Best in the World”), bearing 1881 1d. [postage stamp].
 The other side of the perfume sachet.
© John S. Sargent, 2003.
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 A Victorian Retailer's Glass Bowl and Cover, inscribed 'Hodgson & Simpson Limited "Sweet May" Toilet Soap', 21 cm high x 21 cm diameter. This one was available for £250 at the Hemswell Antique Centre on 31st January 2010. Probably a rare survivor from the Victorian era.
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 Hodgson & Simpson's Invincible Transparent Soap was around in
the 1890s.
This photograph was kindly supplied by Mr. G. Carefoot, who had bought the ancient bar of soap to use on a military history project.
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Sources include:
Wakefield Canal Trail, John Goodchild, Wakefield Historical Publications, 1985 ISBN 0 901869 22 8.
A History of Walton, Peter Wright.
Charles Waterton, Julia Blackburn.
Margarine, Soap & Detergents ('International Good Guys', http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/12-linind/soap.htm. |
 Hodgson and Simpson Soap Label, late 19th or early 20th century.
© John S. Sargent. |
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