Levington Research Station

52°00′43″N 1°15′43″E / 52.012°N 1.262°E / 52.012; 1.262Elevation20 m (66 ft)Construction started1956Completed1957Inaugurated1957ClientFisonsDimensionsOther dimensions7.5 hectaresTechnical detailsFloor count4

The Levington Research Station is a fertiliser research institute in Suffolk.

History

Fisons

It was opened by Fisons in 1957.^[2] It received a Civic Trust Award in 1959.^[3] Fisons sold the property in 1981.

Around three hundred people worked at the site and it was one of Europe's largest research institutes in the field of fertiliser.

Ownership

On 1 January 1960, Fisons Horticulture and Fisons Fertilisers were formed. The research site worked with both.^[4]

The horticultural division of Fisons was sold off for £25.4m in a management buy out in 1994 known as Levington Horticulture; the division had around 280 people and around 26% of the UK market, turning over £47m. ^[5] In 1997 this division was sold on again to the present ownership.

Fertiliser

The research site developed the first specialist sports turf fertiliser; typical agricultural fertiliser was too concentrated: this is now found at all main golf courses across Europe under the Greensmaster brand. Levington Horticulture also made Turfclear herbicide, and had a Royal Warrant.

Compost

The site is known for developing Levington Compost in the 1960s. The compost was made in South Yorkshire and the fertiliser was made at Bramford, west of Ipswich, next to the Great Eastern Main Line.

Levington Multi-Purpose Compost (when owned by Fisons) had a 1984 television advert featuring Jack and the Beanstalk.

Visits

On Tuesday 1 May 1956, the site was visited by the Duke of Edinburgh.^[6]

Structure

It is in the Suffolk Coastal district of Suffolk.

See also

• History of fertilizer
• Sports Turf Research Institute

References

External links

• History