This factory was built in 1913 for the Arrol Johnston Motor Company. Designed by Albert Kahn, who also designed Ford's Highland Park factory, it was the first factory in Britain constructed of Ferro Concrete.
By the late 1920's the company was in financial difficulties and merged with Aster of Wembley to become Arrol-Aster.
Despite winning the contract to reconstruct Malcolm Campbell's Blue Bird III in 1929, financial difficulties soon forced the firm into administration and production ceased in 1931.
The building was used again by the Air Ministry in WWII. In 1946 the factory was taken over by the North British Rubber Company who specialised in compound rubber and fractioned fabric manufacture. Production of the famous Hunter boot began here in the 1950s.
In 1966 the firm was bought by Uniroyal. It received a Royal Warrant from The Duke of Edinburgh in 1976 and The Queen in 1986, the year in which ownership changed again to the Gates Rubber Company of Colorado.
In 1996 Tomkins Plc took over and in 1999 sold the factory to Interfloor, the country's largest underlay manufacturer.
2004 saw a management buy out but two years later the company went into administration. Underlay manufacture went to the firms plant in Lancashire and boot production went to China.
The tooling from the factory is used in Serbia by Tigar Footware.
The factory featured in the children's tv show Come Outside in the 1990s.
Hope you're still here! Now the pics, more here https://www.flickr.com/photos/107793356@N06/sets/72157648798949659/
075 by tumble112, on Flickr
076 by tumble112, on Flickr
072 by tumble112, on Flickr
008 by tumble112, on Flickr
004 by tumble112, on Flickr
015 by tumble112, on Flickr
017 by tumble112, on Flickr
018 by tumble112, on Flickr
010 by tumble112, on Flickr
013 by tumble112, on Flickr
011 by tumble112, on Flickr
024 by tumble112, on Flickr
025 by tumble112, on Flickr
026 by tumble112, on Flickr
022 by tumble112, on Flickr
068 by tumble112, on Flickr
035 by tumble112, on Flickr
033 by tumble112, on Flickr
070 by tumble112, on Flickr
027 by tumble112, on Flickr
041 by tumble112, on Flickr
In the factory's heyday
imageGen (3) by tumble112, on Flickr
034 by tumble112, on Flickr
037 by tumble112, on Flickr
038 by tumble112, on Flickr
043 by tumble112, on Flickr
048 by tumble112, on Flickr
049 by tumble112, on Flickr
058 by tumble112, on Flickr
060 by tumble112, on Flickr
059 by tumble112, on Flickr
065 by tumble112, on Flickr
064 by tumble112, on Flickr
The main factory gate today.....
080 by tumble112, on Flickr
And in 1929 with Blue Bird III sitting outside. Complete with its 24 litre Napier Lion aero engine on show...
paghekwpqbzua6l45pf2 by tumble112, on Flickr
078 by tumble112, on Flickr
Thanks for looking
By the late 1920's the company was in financial difficulties and merged with Aster of Wembley to become Arrol-Aster.
Despite winning the contract to reconstruct Malcolm Campbell's Blue Bird III in 1929, financial difficulties soon forced the firm into administration and production ceased in 1931.
The building was used again by the Air Ministry in WWII. In 1946 the factory was taken over by the North British Rubber Company who specialised in compound rubber and fractioned fabric manufacture. Production of the famous Hunter boot began here in the 1950s.
In 1966 the firm was bought by Uniroyal. It received a Royal Warrant from The Duke of Edinburgh in 1976 and The Queen in 1986, the year in which ownership changed again to the Gates Rubber Company of Colorado.
In 1996 Tomkins Plc took over and in 1999 sold the factory to Interfloor, the country's largest underlay manufacturer.
2004 saw a management buy out but two years later the company went into administration. Underlay manufacture went to the firms plant in Lancashire and boot production went to China.
The tooling from the factory is used in Serbia by Tigar Footware.
The factory featured in the children's tv show Come Outside in the 1990s.
Hope you're still here! Now the pics, more here https://www.flickr.com/photos/107793356@N06/sets/72157648798949659/
075 by tumble112, on Flickr
076 by tumble112, on Flickr
072 by tumble112, on Flickr
008 by tumble112, on Flickr
004 by tumble112, on Flickr
015 by tumble112, on Flickr
017 by tumble112, on Flickr
018 by tumble112, on Flickr
010 by tumble112, on Flickr
013 by tumble112, on Flickr
011 by tumble112, on Flickr
024 by tumble112, on Flickr
025 by tumble112, on Flickr
026 by tumble112, on Flickr
022 by tumble112, on Flickr
068 by tumble112, on Flickr
035 by tumble112, on Flickr
033 by tumble112, on Flickr
070 by tumble112, on Flickr
027 by tumble112, on Flickr
041 by tumble112, on Flickr
In the factory's heyday
imageGen (3) by tumble112, on Flickr
034 by tumble112, on Flickr
037 by tumble112, on Flickr
038 by tumble112, on Flickr
043 by tumble112, on Flickr
048 by tumble112, on Flickr
049 by tumble112, on Flickr
058 by tumble112, on Flickr
060 by tumble112, on Flickr
059 by tumble112, on Flickr
065 by tumble112, on Flickr
064 by tumble112, on Flickr
The main factory gate today.....
080 by tumble112, on Flickr
And in 1929 with Blue Bird III sitting outside. Complete with its 24 litre Napier Lion aero engine on show...
paghekwpqbzua6l45pf2 by tumble112, on Flickr
078 by tumble112, on Flickr
Thanks for looking
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