So the access we’d been given for this site was completely sealed, and fairly recently too. A walk of the perimeter revealed another, challenging access. I volunteered to go first, while everyone waited outside then report back to say if it was worth going in.
The first couple of buildings I went in were trashed, and fire damaged beyond belief. The debris on the floor came halfway up the doorways, and there were no artefacts or architectural features what so ever. I was on the verge of returning and saying “Lets call it a day lads, there’s nothing worth seeing in there”
But I carried on through the complex for another 5 mins, and could see a courtyard surrounded by derelict buildings beyond. So returned and said, c’mon, let’s give it a shot there might be something in the other buildings”
And boy was there.
Typical warehouse:
Vase moulds:
Signage:
There was the typical urbex discovery that the rooms near the access were trashed, and slowly but surely each building further into the site revealed more unbroken, pristine treasures.
Mint Crystal plates:
Paperwork:
Selfie:
Prosthetic leg:
Trade newspaper from 1975 - Mint:
The canteen was playful. It was a crystal factory, and they had formed ‘stained glass’ windows from coloured crystal off cuts.
The very last building we visited was used to archive all of the moulds, and casting equipment. Every design was numbered.
Here are the tongs. 8,000 pairs, all numbered, all slightly different.
Corresponding to these there wee also 8,000 unique moulds:
And 8,000 jigs.
Control samples of each of the designs were littered about.
Cheers for looking:
Video will be coming soon.
