Artificial Silk…from Kew to the World

Today I visited the Museum of Richmond which has a small exhibition called  Artificial Silk : From Kew to the world. I really did not know what to expect so was interested to read the history of viscose. Two scientists Cross and Bevan who worked in the laboratories at Kew made viscose using cellulose and various chemicals. They patented the  process in 1892. A factory was set up in Kew.  In 1904 the Spinning  Syndicate sold their patent to the leading manufacturing firm of the day Courtaulds. They set up quite a few bigger factories around the Country to make viscose as it was a much cheaper alternative to silk.
 Nowadays the majority of viscose is made in China, India and SE Asia.

Afterwards we had lunch at Megan’s and then went to the Orange Tree Theatre to see a very whacky production of. Northanger Abbey. A very energetic cast of three played all the characters…it did miss out bits of the book story but was an interesting interpretation. It’s a new play which is then going touring. Some of the audience were obviously not keen as over 20 left at the interval!