Aylesford Newsprint 2016

History

Ripped from kent online:

Aylesford Newsprint had been making paper on its current site since 1922 and formerly produced newsprint for The Times, Mirror and The Observer. It made a 100% recycled product and owned the largest paper recycling factory in Europe.

However, Palm Paper in Norfolk opened the world’s largest newsprint machine in 2009 at a time when there was already too much newsprint being made.This along with the strengthening of the pound along with foreign competition and possible other factors meant that the business made a loss of £32 Million in 2013 and the Print ceased operation in March 2015




The Visit

After a night hitting sites with PricklyBuzz and SlimJim that bore little fruit, we decided to call our trespasses a day and head back home as the time was pressing past 04:00. Before we went back we decided to check out the perimeter of the newsprint as we were up that way. We got spotted by security during our overt reconnaissance, he sped his car past us and killed his lights parking further up, well we weren't going to fall for that elaborate ruse so beat a hasty retreat. A little while later we were at another access point but the time had pushed on and both PricklyBuzz and SlimJim were in urgent need of a toiletry facility where they could defecate in peace, however being down in the South East for just the weekend I was keen to try and see it while I could. Jim who was my lift for the night said he would go to a service station do his deed then come back and pick me up, grand of him considering how early it was and that we had all been on the go for a long time.

I said that I would try get it done in under an hour and a half so as to not keep Jim sat in a car on the side of a Motorway for an unreasonable length of time, in the end I walked a fair bit of the internal buildings and got some decent snaps considering they were all handheld and on an insanely high ISO. I went slightly beyond the deadline due to being unable to find the point of entry I came in through.

There are some really quality reports online of this place where the production process is described along side each bit of machinery, well worth a look in my opinion. Given the hurried nature of my visit, it was less than 45 minutes from the first shutter click to the last it's not going to be as comprehensive, now the excuses are done lets get to the photos,







I should have turned on the light for this shot anyway got to aprriciate the irony with the whole place deserted yet lit,



Onto the big machines,







It was pretty cool how clean this place was for an industrial site



I don't like turning on the lights of rooms if they have windows that would be visible from below however for this lab it had to be done, I don't know what the story is behind this door,









I do love a control pannel,







I'll defiantly be getting back here with Jim And PB at some point for a longer more leisurely explore with tripods and sandwiches,

Thanks for looking

Wow this really is epic! Pity about my bowels kicking off, but I am an old man You even caught a pic of the secca car at the end...hahahaha! That's a lot to cram into such a short space of time! Definitely going back sooner or later for a decent few hours explore. Keep this good stuff flowing...

Quality shots mate, especially given the circumstances! As Jim put it my fire was extinguished that night through the other fails but I am going to have to get to this one soon!

Great report as well as some great pictures, good job ����

Love this, great work and looking forward to the return visit.

Wow this looks like a very cool place very nice photos Konrad!

Some marvellous photos here, pretty cool the lights are still on. Loving those control panels too

I do like a good control panel and you've come up with a couple of good ones. For all the time you had you came up with some good quality photos. I Look forward to part 2. At least you know that there, and where the security guard is.

Hugh Jorgan said:

I do like a good control panel and you've come up with a couple of good ones. For all the time you had you came up with some good quality photos. I Look forward to part 2. At least you know that there, and where the security guard is.

Click to expand...

There were other people milling around on site though... Bring on the proper visit, who knows what madness could unfold!

Totally awesome - just stunning

Awesome stuff mate, me and a mate were talking about this place the other day. Nice control panel shots btw

Super stuff conrad

Big Balls my man, Big Balls !! Those pics are spot on especially considering they were hand held !! Bring on the SJ roadshow revisit !!

Belting report and great images.Thanks for sharing.

Now that is epic!
Amazing shots for handheld! What an adventure, must have been a rush doing that solo!
Just brilliant, thanks for sharing!