Soap, Stories & Victorian Machinery: The Remarkable History of Droyts Fine Soaps – Sophie Chew

Hidden away in a Victorian mill in Lancashire is a remarkable little soap factory where transparent glycerine soap is still made using traditional methods, antique hand-operated and foot-powered equipment, and skills passed down through generations.

Established in 1893 and based in Chorley since 1937, Droyts Fine Soaps is a fascinating example of British manufacturing heritage that is still very much alive today.

This entertaining and illustrated talk reveals the extraordinary history of the company, the unusual processes involved in making transparent glycerine soap, and the wonderful collection of antique tools and machinery that are still used in its production.

With a mixture of history, nostalgia, surprising facts and behind-the-scenes stories, discover how a small Lancashire business has continued making something we all use every day, in a way that has changed remarkably little over the decades.

A fascinating glimpse into a working factory quite unlike anywhere else!