Report - Walkers Crisps Factory, Peterlee, County Durham, May 2018

[catbalou]

Thanks guys, :-)



Cat. x

 

[myke]

Why did you not just ask for a site induction and an escorted tour instead of putting yourselves at risk. You could possibly have endagered others by your actions i.e. interference with equipment. Very irresponsible and very very sad. Good day.

I did twice by letter whilst you were open. I was refused on health and safety grounds despite actually working in the industry at a senior level .

 

[paul99]

Worked there (supplied printers for the packing machines) about 20 years ago. Didn't realise it had shut down.

 

[lonsdale]

Originally opening as Tudor Crisps, the Walkers factory dates back to 1960. The following year it was bought by Smiths Crisps who owned it for 28 years until Walkers took over in 1989. PepsiCo announced in March 2017 it would be closing the Peterlee site in December relocating all production to the company's other sites in the UK resulting in the loss of 355 jobs.

This was one of those explores where you find yourself putting so much time and effort poring over google maps, various recces back and forth and not actually knowing whether the place would be an empty shell once you managed to gain access.

We nearly called off the whole visit due to various factors but i think in the end it was a mixture of "its pouring with rain, we've sat for bloody 45 minutes, lets just go for it..."
and Im pleased we did. The place is lit up like Blackpool illuminations, which was good for taking pictures but meant we were always on edge going round every corner wondering if your going to bump into someone any second.

Visited with Stranton one rainy night, thanks for the company mate and the time and effort you put into this as well... it was a fun evening.

Didn't get any externals unfortunately, but this first picture gives you an idea of the scale of the place. The adjacent building is PepsiCo, who own walkers and is still a live site.

Cheers for looking,
Cat

I'll take this post with a tiny bag of salt