Pork Farms Bowyers Factory – Trowbridge 7th Feb 10.
Visited with Hpipe
So this was one of those "lucky" finds on the way to another site, driving around a roundabout a bit lost when we spotted the 2 chimneys and drove over to investigate.
Bingo – disused Bowyers pie factory – my favourite type, so after a very quick checking access and we were in for a good look around. Not seen this place before on the web so may be it’s a new one
Bit of history-
Bowyers had been connected with Trowbridge since 1805/8 when Abraham Bowyers set up a grocers Store which eventually became Bowyers that’s around today.
In March 2008 the bowyers factory now owned by pork farms was shut ending 200 years being based in Trowbridge.
Under investment in the Factory and economic reasons finally shut the place and around 400 people lost there jobs with the bulk of production moving to Nottingham
The Site consists of one (I think) grade 2 listed building which will be restored but the rest is due to be demolished to become part of the new Wiltshire College – well it was but now those plans have been dropped in December 2009 and its future is uncertain.
The site now has been extensively stripped by contractors, the first building is mainly just 3 floors of insulated fridges, a labyrinth of huge fridges that is a nightmare to find your way out of with the bottom floor containing 3 old fryers which are now gone. The “second†is the packing and shipping warehouse – again with huge fridges (read rooms) .
The third is again a series of fridges, probably ingredient delivery, then huge baking ovens and offices
The forth is the smallest and the oldest(possibly listed) but we couldn’t get in, except to the old workshop on the side.
All of the three buildings are luckily linked by long overhead gantry walkways, one of which was a bugger to find internally and they creak like hell when your walking in them especially the one over the public foot path. One looks to be inter building transport and the other longer one is actually a fire exit.
Its one of those sites that if your passing and don't have anything else on as there really is not a lot left but despite this, its still 5/6 Hours tour.
Anyway a few pics..
]
Unusual Toilet shot
cheers
Visited with Hpipe
So this was one of those "lucky" finds on the way to another site, driving around a roundabout a bit lost when we spotted the 2 chimneys and drove over to investigate.
Bingo – disused Bowyers pie factory – my favourite type, so after a very quick checking access and we were in for a good look around. Not seen this place before on the web so may be it’s a new one
Bit of history-
Bowyers had been connected with Trowbridge since 1805/8 when Abraham Bowyers set up a grocers Store which eventually became Bowyers that’s around today.
In March 2008 the bowyers factory now owned by pork farms was shut ending 200 years being based in Trowbridge.
Under investment in the Factory and economic reasons finally shut the place and around 400 people lost there jobs with the bulk of production moving to Nottingham
The Site consists of one (I think) grade 2 listed building which will be restored but the rest is due to be demolished to become part of the new Wiltshire College – well it was but now those plans have been dropped in December 2009 and its future is uncertain.
The site now has been extensively stripped by contractors, the first building is mainly just 3 floors of insulated fridges, a labyrinth of huge fridges that is a nightmare to find your way out of with the bottom floor containing 3 old fryers which are now gone. The “second†is the packing and shipping warehouse – again with huge fridges (read rooms) .
The third is again a series of fridges, probably ingredient delivery, then huge baking ovens and offices
The forth is the smallest and the oldest(possibly listed) but we couldn’t get in, except to the old workshop on the side.
All of the three buildings are luckily linked by long overhead gantry walkways, one of which was a bugger to find internally and they creak like hell when your walking in them especially the one over the public foot path. One looks to be inter building transport and the other longer one is actually a fire exit.
Its one of those sites that if your passing and don't have anything else on as there really is not a lot left but despite this, its still 5/6 Hours tour.
Anyway a few pics..
Unusual Toilet shot
cheers
