I couldn’t find a great deal online talking about the history of the site but I did get this:
The Clay Factory originally started life as a china clay works at the turn of the 1900’s – the clay was pumped down to the site from Dartmoor for drying and processing before being transported by train for production. No longer commercially viable, the clay works closed shop in the early 1930’s.
The next company to take up residence was the tractor engineering firm Western Machinery who were so impactful that The Clay Factory is still known in the local community as the ‘Western Machinery building’ or Westmac.
I’ve also heard it recently got bought by a housing company which plan to start work soon. That may not be 100% true though.
Now... about the explore. So far I think this might have been my favourite explore I’ve done yet. I’d been here a couple times before I joined 28D and I managed to see the whole site then. However a couple months ago 24/7 security was put in place and I can tell you now they don’t fuck about. Luckily I managed to see the best parts of the site before I got caught there. Thankfully we were able to out run them and get out before they could speak to me. There were two other big buildings and a couple smaller buildings which I didn’t get any photos of but there wasn’t much in them from what I remember anyway.
I appreciate I’m not the best at shots so I feel I haven’t done the site justice with my pictures, but it truly is a gem and I definetely recommend a visit.
Walking down path after entering via the woods as main entrance is guarded by security.
Looking back at the other factories which are pretty much empty.
Shot at some of the clay mixers. There were a couple more round the corner.
Looking into one of the clay mixers. There is a way of getting inside but I don’t know how. Also didn’t see much point.
Looking in to factory at the back of site. Th is the one with all the machinery still left in .
Smaller room next to entrance on factory.
Lots of asbestos around here so a mask would be advised if your planning a visit. This my favourite part of the site.
Walkway to the top of some oft hen machinery. Was safe to walk up.
Shot looking at other side of factory. Half way up walkway.
Looking down at factory.
Looking across from top of walkway.
Looking back on other side of factory. Walkway on this side wasn’t safe to walk on.
Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed reading!
The Clay Factory originally started life as a china clay works at the turn of the 1900’s – the clay was pumped down to the site from Dartmoor for drying and processing before being transported by train for production. No longer commercially viable, the clay works closed shop in the early 1930’s.
The next company to take up residence was the tractor engineering firm Western Machinery who were so impactful that The Clay Factory is still known in the local community as the ‘Western Machinery building’ or Westmac.
I’ve also heard it recently got bought by a housing company which plan to start work soon. That may not be 100% true though.
Now... about the explore. So far I think this might have been my favourite explore I’ve done yet. I’d been here a couple times before I joined 28D and I managed to see the whole site then. However a couple months ago 24/7 security was put in place and I can tell you now they don’t fuck about. Luckily I managed to see the best parts of the site before I got caught there. Thankfully we were able to out run them and get out before they could speak to me. There were two other big buildings and a couple smaller buildings which I didn’t get any photos of but there wasn’t much in them from what I remember anyway.
I appreciate I’m not the best at shots so I feel I haven’t done the site justice with my pictures, but it truly is a gem and I definetely recommend a visit.
Walking down path after entering via the woods as main entrance is guarded by security.
Looking back at the other factories which are pretty much empty.
Shot at some of the clay mixers. There were a couple more round the corner.
Looking into one of the clay mixers. There is a way of getting inside but I don’t know how. Also didn’t see much point.
Looking in to factory at the back of site. Th is the one with all the machinery still left in .
Smaller room next to entrance on factory.
Lots of asbestos around here so a mask would be advised if your planning a visit. This my favourite part of the site.
Walkway to the top of some oft hen machinery. Was safe to walk up.
Shot looking at other side of factory. Half way up walkway.
Looking down at factory.
Looking across from top of walkway.
Looking back on other side of factory. Walkway on this side wasn’t safe to walk on.
Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed reading!
