- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 5,647
- Reaction score
- 11,333
1. The History
The company dates back to just after the second world war when the iron founding operation specialised in making cast iron pipes for the water industry. In 1950 the foundry was acquired by new owners with the aim of supply castings to their railway wagon building business. A management buy-out followed in 1984, only for the company to close in 2002. Bought by new owners, they incorporated it in 2002. However in early 2014 it ran into financial difficulties after it lost a contract worth 70 per cent of its turnover.
After this, the company struggled to find enough work for its 16 employees, which included three directors. Even dropping its price failed to bring in new business and the company was further hit by foreign competition.
After it went into liquidation the receivers did a very good job managing to pay creditors 60p in the pound. Since then the works have been left abandoned.
2. The Explore
Met up with Bikin Glynn for this one (great to explore with you sir!). Big up to Mikeymutt for Intel. Hasn't seen many explorers this place, though there were several familiar names of the guest-board (see picture below). Access was easy and it turned out to be a fascinating and relaxed wander. The site is split in two with the old wooden pattern store and older brick buildings one side of a railway bridge and the main factory where most of the operations took place, the other. Plenty to see and left in situ. Really enjoyed the brightly coloured patterns and the rusty industrial machinery. So, overall, a very pleasurable way to spend an hour or so exploring in the spring sun.
3. The Pictures
Ivy-clad building on the way:
img0025 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The first thing that comes into view is the old wooden pattern shed:
img0023 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The first of many colourful patterns:
img9945 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9946 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Tatty head. Lol.
img9947 by HughieDW, on Flickr
More patterns:
img9949 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9950 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9951 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Can you tell this was my fave bit?
img9958 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9959 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9963 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Think this was my favourite casting:
img9964 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the old buildings nearby. This has fallen into disuse before the main factory closed.
img9968 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9969 by HughieDW, on Flickr
More castings:
img9971 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 08 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nature taking over:
img9982 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Inside looking out:
img9972 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This bit was on its way out:
img9974 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Love this shelving made out of old (WWII?) stretchers:
Valley Foundry 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9977 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9978 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9979 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the main factory:
img9985 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0003 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Big hook!
img9986 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some serious gear here:
img9990 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 14 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 12 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Love the ornateness of these patterns:
img0004 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Shame this plaque didn’t find a home:
img0005 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Those that went before us. A few familiar names here
Valley Foundry 15 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A few manuals:
img0012 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0013 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The heavy stuff:
img0015 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 16 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some sort of hopper:
img0017 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 13 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Upstairs store room. Now reusing of old railway sleepers for the flooring!
img9995 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9996 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9997bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img9999 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Valley Foundry 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The company dates back to just after the second world war when the iron founding operation specialised in making cast iron pipes for the water industry. In 1950 the foundry was acquired by new owners with the aim of supply castings to their railway wagon building business. A management buy-out followed in 1984, only for the company to close in 2002. Bought by new owners, they incorporated it in 2002. However in early 2014 it ran into financial difficulties after it lost a contract worth 70 per cent of its turnover.
After this, the company struggled to find enough work for its 16 employees, which included three directors. Even dropping its price failed to bring in new business and the company was further hit by foreign competition.
After it went into liquidation the receivers did a very good job managing to pay creditors 60p in the pound. Since then the works have been left abandoned.
2. The Explore
Met up with Bikin Glynn for this one (great to explore with you sir!). Big up to Mikeymutt for Intel. Hasn't seen many explorers this place, though there were several familiar names of the guest-board (see picture below). Access was easy and it turned out to be a fascinating and relaxed wander. The site is split in two with the old wooden pattern store and older brick buildings one side of a railway bridge and the main factory where most of the operations took place, the other. Plenty to see and left in situ. Really enjoyed the brightly coloured patterns and the rusty industrial machinery. So, overall, a very pleasurable way to spend an hour or so exploring in the spring sun.
3. The Pictures
Ivy-clad building on the way:
img0025 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe first thing that comes into view is the old wooden pattern shed:
img0023 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe first of many colourful patterns:
img9945 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9946 by HughieDW, on FlickrTatty head. Lol.
img9947 by HughieDW, on FlickrMore patterns:
img9949 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9950 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9951 by HughieDW, on FlickrCan you tell this was my fave bit?
img9958 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9959 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9963 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 03 by HughieDW, on FlickrThink this was my favourite casting:
img9964 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the old buildings nearby. This has fallen into disuse before the main factory closed.
img9968 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9969 by HughieDW, on FlickrMore castings:
img9971 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 08 by HughieDW, on FlickrNature taking over:
img9982 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 09 by HughieDW, on FlickrInside looking out:
img9972 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis bit was on its way out:
img9974 by HughieDW, on FlickrLove this shelving made out of old (WWII?) stretchers:
Valley Foundry 06 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9977 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9978 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9979 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 07 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the main factory:
img9985 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0003 by HughieDW, on FlickrBig hook!
img9986 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome serious gear here:
img9990 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 14 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 12 by HughieDW, on FlickrLove the ornateness of these patterns:
img0004 by HughieDW, on FlickrShame this plaque didn’t find a home:
img0005 by HughieDW, on FlickrThose that went before us. A few familiar names here
Valley Foundry 15 by HughieDW, on FlickrA few manuals:
img0012 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0013 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe heavy stuff:
img0015 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 16 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome sort of hopper:
img0017 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 13 by HughieDW, on FlickrUpstairs store room. Now reusing of old railway sleepers for the flooring!
img9995 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9996 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9997bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg9999 by HughieDW, on FlickrValley Foundry 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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