Report - Pianoforte Supplies Ltd, Roade April 2014-Jan 2015

[mookster]

Pianoforte Supplies was one of my favourite places I've ever photographed. I first visited it way back in 2011 and then numerous times in 2014, with my final visit in January 2015. It was a beautiful relaxed place to spend time in, and I spent much of the time I was there experimenting with shots and seeing what I could produce. It was largely empty except for one wonderful small production area which used to be reserved for manufacturing wheels for pianos, which was a perfect example of something that had been left to decay almost unmolested for over three decades. After Pianoforte closed in the early 1980s some of the buildings were taken over by a firm that produced vehicle trim pieces and later in life this area became a dumping ground for discarded Rover SD1 trim and their associated wooden moulds.

I never did manage to see the large part that was back in use until around 2012, but by the looks of it there wasn't much of interest in there anyway.

In January 2015 I returned and had a poke around the part of the site I'd first visited in 2011, and I was amazed to see that other than a small amount more graffiti almost nothing had changed.

Thanks for looking ​

 

[Mikeymutt]

Just looking through my photos from here mate. That workshop was not the biggest but just beautiful. Would love to go back and re shoot it. Such a shame they demolished it

 

[host]

Great report. That sticker the Marlboro one is great my dad would take the family to the British Grand Prix in the late 70s do good chance I was their. I remember going Brands Hatch too

 

[Bikin Glynn]

That's excellent, I only ever got few externals from here. Ironically though I did get to repair & reinstall the gates on the new housing estate

 

[mookster]

That's excellent, I only ever got few externals from here. Ironically though I did get to repair & reinstall the gates on the new housing estate

That's a real shame! It was a great place for a relaxed wander. I still have fond memories of climbing up the pipework to get to the upstairs area near the wheel workshop, where the Marlboro sticker was if memory serves me right!.

 

[Louis Balfour]

I used to be an automotive customer of Pianoforte - exterior trim strips - the factory always seemed to be a bit of rambling mix producing a hotchpotch of products and it was never really clear what their longer term strategy was.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

I used to be an automotive customer of Pianoforte - exterior trim strips - the factory always seemed to be a bit of rambling mix producing a hotchpotch of products and it was never really clear what their longer term strategy was.

Sounds like that's why they folded then lol

 

[jiver]

I worked for the company that auctioned and removed a lot of the presses and tool room equipment. We were told the the land owners let the company run until they were offered silly money for the land. They owned many thousands of acres in and around the area.

 

[cw1991urbex]

very nice, like this a lot

 

[Mikeymutt]

Lovely stuff. Bringing back memories of a few nice visits here.