Visited this place a couple of times with my girlfriend over a period of a couple of months
The (Stolen) History
This is the best history I've been able to find and is borrowed from Wakey Lad's brilliant report here: http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=22954#.UR-VQaXIbcA
The company was founded by John Dyson who began mining clay and making bricks in the early 1800s. From the very beginning the business was a success. The 1834 Sheffield trade directory lists - “John Dyson - Brick Maker, Stannington” which indicates that he ran the business on his own. However, by 1838 the business was listed as “John Dyson and Son - Black clay miners and firebrick manufacturers, Griffs House, Stannington.
Dyson's were manufacturers of Refractory material, ceramics for the steel industry, they also produce fire backs and other household ceramic bricks for the likes of Aga's etc. They have also been know to sell clay for use in Well Dressings.
Unfortunately Dyson's traditional manufacturing process relied heavily on gas fired kilns. With increased in energy costs the plants was no longer economically viable, despite the very best efforts of the management and staff alike the site closed around 2005.
The high performance niche products in Dyson's range are still available and are the cornerstone in Dyson's progression. The company have a wholly owned manufacturing facility in Tianjin, PRC which produces is high quality products.
The Photographs
1. Nestled in a small valley:
2. The other side of the fence:
3. Strange limbo state of demolition for some reason:
4. Nice and dusty:
5. The main floor, with kilns on the left:
6. Mangled from the demolition attempts:
7. The famous record player:
8. Wholesome orange gunk:
9. Mirror mirror on the wall:
10. Lovely moulds all over the place:
11. Electrics:
12. Gorgeous greens on the brickwork
Cheers for looking, hit me up if you want to explore in the Sheffield area.
Thirteen.