1 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-68863) of Hercules Incorporated of our report dated June 22, 1999 relating to the financial statements, which appears in this Form 11-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 9, 1999