The South Derbyshire town of Swadlincote has been historically known for coal mining and clay extraction, and the pottery and pipe manufacturing industries as a result.
Industrial decline and an extensive regeneration of the town in the past 15 years has seen many of these industrial remnants erased in the name of progress - new housing and business parks being the norm throughout the area today.
Hepworths Pipeworks however still stands. Originally built in 1790 as a firebrick works, it became a sewage pipe factory in the 1840s under James Woodward - cities such as Cairo, Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City were believed to have used pipes from Woodyard.
One of the most prominent structures arrived in 1910 in the form of a tall brick chimney which is the tallest structure in Swadlincote, at this point the factory was known as Wragg's Pipeworks. In 1978 the works were taken over by Hepworths whom rebuilt and modernised the works. The chimney was threatened with demolition in the 1980s however was vocally opposed by locals and the structure was given Grade II listed status.
In 2002 the site was acquired my Morrisons supermarkets and half the works have been demolished and redeveloped with a large supermarket. It is believed the rest of the works are due to be redeveloped also though little has happened as of late.
Industrial decline and an extensive regeneration of the town in the past 15 years has seen many of these industrial remnants erased in the name of progress - new housing and business parks being the norm throughout the area today.
Hepworths Pipeworks however still stands. Originally built in 1790 as a firebrick works, it became a sewage pipe factory in the 1840s under James Woodward - cities such as Cairo, Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City were believed to have used pipes from Woodyard.
One of the most prominent structures arrived in 1910 in the form of a tall brick chimney which is the tallest structure in Swadlincote, at this point the factory was known as Wragg's Pipeworks. In 1978 the works were taken over by Hepworths whom rebuilt and modernised the works. The chimney was threatened with demolition in the 1980s however was vocally opposed by locals and the structure was given Grade II listed status.
In 2002 the site was acquired my Morrisons supermarkets and half the works have been demolished and redeveloped with a large supermarket. It is believed the rest of the works are due to be redeveloped also though little has happened as of late.
