Cooper`s Woodside Abattoir, Crich, October 2008

Woodside Abattoir, Crich, opened in 1976, it belonged to Alan Dakin Ltd. At some point in time between 1976 and when I first worked there in 1997, ownership transferred to Harry Cooper (Butchers) Ltd. As far as I can remember, Cooper`s must have stopped trading sometime around 1999 / 2000. Until fairly recently the bold blue Harry Cooper (Butchers) Ltd sign, on the front of the building, could be seen clearly, at the top of the drive, from the road, it is now well hidden behind trees.




Sale sign found in the grass at the bottom of the drive






View up the drive





Loading bay




Entrance stairs to offices & Staff Only door to Slaughter hall












Switches under the stairs











Meat Inspectors Office
once the staff canteen












There is very little left inside the main slaughter hall (no lights!) apart from the legging stand and part of the knocking box, everything else including the rails, were auctioned off. Hatch through to gut room (just to left of centre) gutting stand gone. Next to the hatch is the Passageway through to slaughterman`s mess room





Cattle legging stand, cattle blood trough behind








What`s left of the cattle knocking box





Pig hall, pig tank gone, pig stun pen on
the left with pig lairage beyond




On the front yard







Cattle lairage







Ramp to first floor sheep lairage





Central bay of sheep lairage






Sheep race, entrance to stunning pen



Bottom of sheep race, far left and stunning pen door, steps gone, view from inspection area









Part of inspection area & entrance to fridges & loading bay




Loading bay








Lairage man`s cottage, now derelict, to the side of loading bay





Back yard

Well, I eat meat, but the sight of those killing rooms has seriously jeopardised my carnivore lifestyle.

Cooper`s

I must admit it does look a lot grimmer now than it did when it was up and running

Pity you couldn't photograph the machinary. I must say, it isn't the most pleasant sight though.

What's a legging stand and a knocking box? Or do I not want to know?

There is something somehow nasty about seeing that lol, i always thought it would take a lot to phase me, but the descriptions of all those stunning pens and blood urghhhh lol. Brilliant write up and pictures

This place has moved me one step closer to giving up meat pies.

An odd question but did the place smell? You know - from any animal fluids etc? Just curious!

Hi Looloo, a legging stand is where the feet are removed and removal of the hide (from the hind legs) begins, then the carcase is transferred from the bleed rail onto the main rail for further processing. A knocking box is the start of the whole process, where humane stunning takes place, I hope that`s not too much information for you, I kept it brief. It really is all done humanely. Cheers, concretegarden

Many thanks for the positive feedback, urbtography . Cheers, concretegarden

Mmmmm 'condemned meat'.....

There's something about these places....

Hi sausage, what smell there is, you soon get used to. It really is all done hygienically. The state of the place now is a world removed from how it was when it was up and running. Cheers, concretegarden

Hi zimbob, 'condemned meat' , is that which is deemed unfit for human consumption. Cheers, concretegarden

I was in a modern but abandoned abattoir earlier in the year, and there was definitely a stench of death about the place...
Put me off eating meat ever again even more.

Hello lost, I must have developed an immunity

I visited this place with my dad, (concretegarden) found it very interesting

concretegarden said:

Hi zimbob, 'condemned meat' , is that which is deemed unfit for human consumption. Cheers, concretegarden

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Yeah, kinda Homer Simpson moment there

Hey, I know how to show the kids a good time, didn`t cost a penny. lol

concretegarden said:

Hey, I know how to show the kids a good time, didn`t cost a penny. lol

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LOL

Seen slaughter houses on TV really nasty stuff, i used to work on my uncles farm where cattle used to get shipped off to slaughter the poor buggers.
I do love sunday carvery though!

Wonder how many of you have killed, cleaned and then cooked your own food?

and7barton said:

Well, I eat meat, but the sight of those killing rooms has seriously jeopardised my carnivore lifestyle.

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Same here. I am filled with deep sadness. Can't believe that it is humane. The animals must have sensed and smelt death as they were herded in. Good report though, I don't think I could ever do an abatoire. The place does look really grim!

Neosea said:

Wonder how many of you have killed, cleaned and then cooked your own food?

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I kill all my own vegetables on a daily basis