Video Guide for Whitehall Tobacco Works - Belfast

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Established in 1810 Murray & Sons produced fine tobacco products. This Whitehall Tobacco Works seen tobacco production transferred from the London branch of Rothmans to Belfast in 1972. Dunhill, Erinmore and Craven was made here but in 2005 the factory was closed down and sold to BAT. Production was moved to Denmark with the loss of 63 local jobs.

Travel Video Tags for Whitehall Tobacco Works:

Murray Sons & Company , Rothmans , Carreras International , Dunhill , Erinmore , Craven , British American Tobacco Group ,

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Whitehall Tobacco Works Travel Video - Audio Transcript

Whitehall Tobacco Works

Almost 200 years ago, in 1810, Murray and Sons was established. They produced fine tobacco and well-known pipe brands such as Dunhill, Erinmore and Craven. These products attracted quite a following since they were sold in 45 countries worldwide.

            Carreras International took over Murray Sons & Company in 1953 but in 1967 they bought a controlling interest in Alfred Dunhill Ltd. However, only when Rothmans bought out Carreras in 1972 were operations eventually moved to this Belfast plant called Whitehall Tobacco Works as still indicated on the side of the building. The Dunhill brand which was originally based in London moved here in 1981. Up until that time Carreras had carefully managed their production in a blend-friendly environment as their Dunhill line production also included cigars and other smoking related items at that time. This abrupt turn though by Rothmans was seen a strategic brand exercise. Dunhill Tobacco Ltd effectively ceased to exist after this although it’s believed wrongly to have been associated with the original Dunhill pipes which were in fact made by another company even before this period.

            There are some interesting features inside the empty hull of this building like the capitals atop the slim columns on the ground floor. Several fireplaces are surrounded with wooden panelling which would have made it that little bit more cosy looking during the colder spells here. The stairs are the main highlight and illustrate skilled craftsmanship. There are presently no details available about the internal characteristics of this Tobacco Works.

            In 2005 Whitehall Tobacco Works of Murray Sons & Co manufacturing plant was closed and sold to British American Tobacco Group, or BAT. Since they already owned Rothmans, they outsourced all manufacturing of their pipe tobacco blends to the Orlik Tobacco Company based in Assens in Denmark. Machines and even raw and blended aging tobacco, as well as tinned products, lids, labels, and just about anything that could be shifted were sent to their new Danish premises.

            The BBC reported at the time in October of 2004, that, “The owners of Murray and Sons is proposing to close its plant on Sandy Row, with the loss of 63 jobs... The company is blaming a fall in global demand for pipe tobacco as well as rising costs.”

            This is the top room floor where the shell of an antique lift in the corner can be seen. In all likelihood this floor was probably used for drying and storage purposes.

References

http://www.mindless.ca/pipe-smoking/two-dunhills.html

http://pipelore.net/index.php?id=123

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3957589.stm

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