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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Tucked away in Loxley Valley, just outside Sheffield is a large cluster of derelict factories. Industry first came to the Loxley area in the middle of the 17th century when the first mills were set up on the fast-flowing River Loxley. Steel and iron forging and rolling mills were established and became the main manufacturing processes with the Loxley Steel Works, the Green Wheel Steel Works, the Little Matlock Rolling Mill and the Olive Rolling Mill all becoming established industries by the river. Many of the mill ponds associated with these mills are still present on the river and provide a haven for fish and wildlife. During the 1800s the Loxley Valley became an important producer of refractory bricks for the expanding Sheffield steel industry. The bricks were used to line the furnaces and were made from ganister, a sort of sandstone which was prevalent in the Loxley area. Many ganister mines existed in the area supplying the local firms of Thomas Wragg, Siddons Bros., Hepworth’s and Thomas Marshall which sprang up in the district and produced the bricks. Refractory production ceased in the area in the 1990s.
The site was then purchased by the house building company, Bovis Homes Group, in 2006. They intended to build 500 homes on the site. However, the plans have met with stiff opposition from the Loxley Valley Protection Society, the Loxley Valley Design Group, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Bradfield Parish Council. Bovis have not received permission to go ahead with the development and the site is still a derelict industrial site.
2. The Explore
This place is a very, very large site. Unfortunately in recent times the security has been stepped up. As soon as I parked up I saw the on-site security guy who I nodded to and also noticed the CCTV cameras. I changed my boots and set off trying to pass myself off as a hiker. A footpath cuts through and round the extensive site but the site is pretty-well fenced off and has the Loxley River running down the north side of the site. In the end I satisfied myself with circumnavigating the site and just taking externals.
It’s a massive site and worth a further look. It’s been a bit neglected exploring-wise due to the nearby Dyson Refractories.
3. The Pictures
Loadsa asbestos!
img3975 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img3988bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img3981 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img3978 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Love the old chimney:
img3980 by HughieDW, on Flick
img3983 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Unusually portal windows:
img3986 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img3987 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Interesting single-storey brick building:
img3991 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4000 by HughieDW, on Flickr
More old factories further down the river from the brick works:
img3994 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img3996 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Hut in the woods:
img3998 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And more old factories:
img4002 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and a bit of graff:
img4003 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4005 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4006 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4007 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Slightly up the approach road is this place, Claremont house. Built in 1895, the large, stone built former dwelling and outbuildings, standing in grounds of approximately 1.4 hectares of land was last used as a social club for employees of the nearby Hepworth’s Refractories, but has been vacant for many years.
img4015 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4013 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4010 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4011 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And back round to Hepworth’s for another quick shufty:
img4018 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4019 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4020 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4022 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and that chimney again:
img4023 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4024bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4025bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4026 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4027 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On the way back, I drove past the infamous Dyson’s refractories. It’s now a building site and all that is left is the famous chimney:
img4028 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Tucked away in Loxley Valley, just outside Sheffield is a large cluster of derelict factories. Industry first came to the Loxley area in the middle of the 17th century when the first mills were set up on the fast-flowing River Loxley. Steel and iron forging and rolling mills were established and became the main manufacturing processes with the Loxley Steel Works, the Green Wheel Steel Works, the Little Matlock Rolling Mill and the Olive Rolling Mill all becoming established industries by the river. Many of the mill ponds associated with these mills are still present on the river and provide a haven for fish and wildlife. During the 1800s the Loxley Valley became an important producer of refractory bricks for the expanding Sheffield steel industry. The bricks were used to line the furnaces and were made from ganister, a sort of sandstone which was prevalent in the Loxley area. Many ganister mines existed in the area supplying the local firms of Thomas Wragg, Siddons Bros., Hepworth’s and Thomas Marshall which sprang up in the district and produced the bricks. Refractory production ceased in the area in the 1990s.
The site was then purchased by the house building company, Bovis Homes Group, in 2006. They intended to build 500 homes on the site. However, the plans have met with stiff opposition from the Loxley Valley Protection Society, the Loxley Valley Design Group, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Bradfield Parish Council. Bovis have not received permission to go ahead with the development and the site is still a derelict industrial site.
2. The Explore
This place is a very, very large site. Unfortunately in recent times the security has been stepped up. As soon as I parked up I saw the on-site security guy who I nodded to and also noticed the CCTV cameras. I changed my boots and set off trying to pass myself off as a hiker. A footpath cuts through and round the extensive site but the site is pretty-well fenced off and has the Loxley River running down the north side of the site. In the end I satisfied myself with circumnavigating the site and just taking externals.
It’s a massive site and worth a further look. It’s been a bit neglected exploring-wise due to the nearby Dyson Refractories.
3. The Pictures
Loadsa asbestos!
img3975 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg3988bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg3981 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg3978 by HughieDW, on FlickrLove the old chimney:
img3980 by HughieDW, on Flickimg3983 by HughieDW, on FlickrUnusually portal windows:
img3986 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg3987 by HughieDW, on FlickrInteresting single-storey brick building:
img3991 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4000 by HughieDW, on FlickrMore old factories further down the river from the brick works:
img3994 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg3996 by HughieDW, on FlickrHut in the woods:
img3998 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd more old factories:
img4002 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and a bit of graff:
img4003 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4005 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4006 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4007 by HughieDW, on FlickrSlightly up the approach road is this place, Claremont house. Built in 1895, the large, stone built former dwelling and outbuildings, standing in grounds of approximately 1.4 hectares of land was last used as a social club for employees of the nearby Hepworth’s Refractories, but has been vacant for many years.
img4015 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4013 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4010 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4011 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd back round to Hepworth’s for another quick shufty:
img4018 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4019 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4020 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4022 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and that chimney again:
img4023 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4024bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4025bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4026 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4027 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn the way back, I drove past the infamous Dyson’s refractories. It’s now a building site and all that is left is the famous chimney:
img4028 by HughieDW, on Flickr
anywhere that has a brick chimney gets a thumbs up from me!
