Pre-war ICI Plastics had 3 manufacturing sites: Factory Lane, Croydon; Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City (former site of Mouldrite who had taken over from Kelacoma - both makers of UF moulding powders) and ICI South Site, Billingham on Tees. The Company chose a new site in Black Fan Rd, WGC on which to consolidate and began the change in 1938; but at the outbreak of war only the Broadwater Road factory and the WF powders section from Croydon had moved there, plans had to be shelved, and the site became the headquarters of the very greatly enlarged company, then known as ICI Plastics Division. At its peak in the late 1960s, the WGC site covered 60 acres and employed 4000 people. In the 70's the Division began to shrink, in the early 80s most of the Welwyn facilities were transferred to the North of England and the site scheduled for redevelopment. When aerial photos of the transition were taken in July 1991, the two new ICI buildings in the North West portion of the site had been completed, ready for occupation by ICl Pensions, ICI Films and various Service Departments who all intended to remain in Welwyn Garden City. After this the rest of the original ICI buildings were demolished with the exception of the Recreation Club (which became Shire Park Club). The latter was originally the rehearsal room of Sir Henry Wood and was acquired by ICI during the war, initially as a Finished Products Store, but with the ultimate intention of its being their Recreation Club. By 1998 ICI left the site completely: the Pensions Department moved to an office in the town centre; ICI Films was sold partly to a Belgian company and partly to Du Pont; the Company's two new buildings became the property of Tesco; and the land was renamed Shire Park. After 50 years occupation the only bits of evidence of the Company ever having been there were the old recreation club and the ICI perimeter fence. Thanks to Eric B who provided the above information.