Stocks of dyes and intermediates were exhausted when World War I broke out in 1914, putting the textile industry in jeopardy.
[2][3] In July 1915, British Dyes, Ltd., was created and bought Read Holliday & Sons of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
[5] That year, BDC developed and patented a process for the prevention of mildew in textile fabrics by the use of halogenated phenols.
[4] The decision to become part of it was made in the face of the threat posed after the establishment of IG Farben, which threatened to dominate the European market.
[2] The company had manufacturing sites at Dalton, Huddersfield, Blackley, Manchester, and Ardeer, North Ayrshire.