This place has been a local classic from when I first started exploring. And for some reason I had never been before. Then two years ago I thought I would go and look on my own. As I was looking for a way in I bumped into two people who had literally just started exploring. So they joined up with me and we went in together. We made our way to the pipes and did that area. We decided to look to see if we can get in the far building opposite it. Sadly one of them walked up near the end to the security hut and then started walking back. Then next thing we saw security coming around the corner shouting us to stop. He was alright with us and told us the gulls at the end gave us away when they all flew up in the air. So I basically missed the kiln area what was to do on the way out. Fast forward a few years and me and man gone wrong decided to go try again as he had not been. We pulled up and was greeted with lots of plant and demolished sheds at the far end. We thought we ain't getting in here today but it actually ended up being easier than ever. We saw security pull up to the gate and do his rounds then go out and drive away. It appears that the sheds are being demolished with the construction of a new river crossing. I can imagine when this is built that the rest of the site will meet a similar demise. As I can imagine once the bridge is built it will be (1) a big eyesore next to a new bridge and (2) prime land next to a new bridge.
Jeld Wen in Lowestoft was formerly owned by Boulton and Paul which was a big local company in my home city. They opened the site in 1962 by the river and employed about 400 people in the eighties. In 1999 an American company called Jeld Wen Inc bought up Boulton and Paul and John Carr and was rebranded as Jeld Wen UK Ltd. Jeld Wen started off in Oregon as a millwork plant with a handful of employees. It grew into a massive company with 150 divisions and twenty thousand employees across the world. The yard here basically milled and processed wood, this was then taken to other factories and staircases and windows were built. In 2009 a recession hit the country and hit the building trade hard. It was decided to close the Lowestoft branch, and it closed in 2010 with the loss off nearly 200 jobs. The massive 36 acre site has sat derelict since.
The main draw here is the massive pipes that form the huge extraction system for the timber workshops.
This is the impressive view from the side.
The most popular shot here as to be looking down here. I shot it last time and since investing in a slightly wider lens I shot it again. They are not as tall as they look.
A few other bits of the site. An empty shed near the pipes.
Next to the main workshop which is still sealed shut is this what you could call a massive lean too. Their was some plinths for machinery in here.
At the front of the main workshop are a handful of these lights. I must admit I really liked these and were a fair size.
To the rear of the site is a small boiler house what was pitch black inside but still nice.
Continued..
Jeld Wen in Lowestoft was formerly owned by Boulton and Paul which was a big local company in my home city. They opened the site in 1962 by the river and employed about 400 people in the eighties. In 1999 an American company called Jeld Wen Inc bought up Boulton and Paul and John Carr and was rebranded as Jeld Wen UK Ltd. Jeld Wen started off in Oregon as a millwork plant with a handful of employees. It grew into a massive company with 150 divisions and twenty thousand employees across the world. The yard here basically milled and processed wood, this was then taken to other factories and staircases and windows were built. In 2009 a recession hit the country and hit the building trade hard. It was decided to close the Lowestoft branch, and it closed in 2010 with the loss off nearly 200 jobs. The massive 36 acre site has sat derelict since.
The main draw here is the massive pipes that form the huge extraction system for the timber workshops.
This is the impressive view from the side.
The most popular shot here as to be looking down here. I shot it last time and since investing in a slightly wider lens I shot it again. They are not as tall as they look.
A few other bits of the site. An empty shed near the pipes.
Next to the main workshop which is still sealed shut is this what you could call a massive lean too. Their was some plinths for machinery in here.
At the front of the main workshop are a handful of these lights. I must admit I really liked these and were a fair size.
To the rear of the site is a small boiler house what was pitch black inside but still nice.
Continued..
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