Report - Courtaulds Hosiery Factory, Belper - Jan 23

[JaffaTB]

History

Courtaulds UK Ltd, manufactured garments for leading firms including Pretty Polly, announced the closure of its West Mill site in Belper back in 2016 with the loss of 320 jobs – ending an association with the town dating back more than 200 years.

The firm collapsed and went into administration owing £7.2m to unsecured creditors after making over £10m worth of losses in the last three years.


The Explore.

Having only seen someone elses blurry pics and seeing no reports from here i decided to have a drive out and check it out for myself, getting on to the site was dead easy but getting inside was a bit more difficult 🤏
Once inside i was suprised to find the lights still worked in some areas which made it feel very creepy as it looked like it had just closed down at the end of the day, machines stopped mid process and boxes of packing materials just left all over.

There must also be a silent alarm in one part of this place as my visit was cut short (luckily i was nearing the end of my explore anyway)

A very dark and creepy place inside, row after row of silent machines, it looks like they started to strip the place and then just gave up half way as theres cages full of computers and other equipment.


Photos.


Outside

We're in!

Machines of all shapes and sizes

Into the part with the power on

Loads of spares left behind

Into the big dark area

Some kind of testing office

Sewing machines of all types and age

Machines and stock piled up all over!

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nicely done looks a cool place, Iv tried this a few times & not found access... must try harder!

 

[Lndnpdd]

Lovely stuff! Looks almost as if the machines could just be restarted tomorrow!

 

[MotionlessMike]

Cool.

As above I've had a look everytime I've passed and not dropped lucky.

There's a PIR with a camera in it pointed straight at you in yer first photo, so that's probably why your visit was interrupted!

 

[westernsultan]

Atticle about the closure and details of some of the machines you saw at Major UK hosiery manufacturer in administration

 

[UrbandonedTeam]

Nice one, although modern still looks great

You told me this was North Manny

 

[Mikeymutt]

That’s rather nice. Glad you cracked it.

 

[Speed]

Yeh its weird its all just been left. Just a shame its not centuries old mill!

 

[Wally_urbex]

Nicely done, good report that

 

[SpiderMonkey]

Love that

 

[mws]

Worked there, just came in and announced it was closing same day 😔
Most of the machinery will now be rusted solid.
Police currently use it for dog training so beware !!

 

[LmC]

I worked there for many years. The alarm is active and police use it for dog training. Intersting to see how much is still there.

 

[JaffaTB]

Worked there, just came in and announced it was closing same day 😔
Most of the machinery will now be rusted solid.
Police currently use it for dog training so beware !!

I worked there for many years. The alarm is active and police use it for dog training. Intersting to see how much is still there.

Are either of your names still on this clocking in board?

interesting to hear from people who actually worked here, and yes seems very secure i have seen a video of someone elses explore but they didn't manage the big bit only the small part opposite and even that was still alarmed.

 

[LmC]

Are either of your names still on this clocking in board?

interesting to hear from people who actually worked here, and yes seems very secure i have seen a video of someone elses explore but they didn't manage the big bit only the small part opposite and even that was still alarmed.

Not me but I know the names. They were in knitting dept

 

[mws]

Mainly knitting mechanics names 🧑‍🔧