History
Ambergate Wire Works was originally a wire manufacturing facility set up by Richard Johnson & Nephew in 1876.
They specialised in telegraph wires, fencing and suspension cables and famously put in a tender for the suspension wires for the Brooklyn Bridge. Typically, suspension wires were made from steel, due to its tensile strength, and for telegraphy wires copper was used due to its higher conductivity. J&N produced the telegraph cables laid underneath the English Channel during World War 2. At its peak, the factory employed over 500 people.
The site was acquired in 1990 by Bridon and became "Bridon Ropes, Johnson & Nephew Wire Works Ltd". They used the site as a storage and distribution centre until it was fully closed down around 1996.
Sadly in April 2017 a 19 year old teenage boy died after falling 20ft through the roof of 1 of the derelict buildings.
The house, 'Oakhurst' nearby was originally built by the Hurt family in 1846, however when the Johnson family bought it they enlarged the property. It changed purpose a number of times, (one reference seems to be that it was used by the army during WW2) it was also a retreat for the local diocese and finally became flats during the 1970's, which ultimately led to its demise when the owning company folded in the 80's.
The Explore
Been planning on doing the wire works for a while now but didn’t really think there was much to see, which to be fair there isn't but with it being quite flooded in parts and with the natural light flooding in from the roof it made for some really nice photography.
You've also got some pretty impressive graffiti in there and not just just someone's shitty tag
Also just a few yards down from the wire works Uve got Oakhurst house which I had seen a few times in the past pop up on Facebook but not so much the old works. Wasn't until recently that I found out they were actually in the same place.
So of course we decided to have quick look at that aswell.
Externally its pretty stunning but on the inside its pretty dam fooked with all floors collapsed it felt pretty sketchy, despite this there is a clear trail through the maze of wreckage inside.
The Wire Works
Oakhurst House
