Turner Brothers Asbestos, February 2013

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

ZerO81

Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
415
Reaction score
600
Location
Manchester
Turner Brothers Asbestos

History
Turner Brothers Asbestos was one of Greater Manchester’s oldest firms and was forced to leave its hometown after more than 100 years. TBA Textiles Ltd has been based at the Turner and Newall factory in Rochdale since 1875But the developer which owns the site has told the firm to leave by May 2012. The Rochdale site was the birthplace of the modern asbestos textile industry and headquarters of the T&N worldwide empire until 1948.

The site of the old Turner Brothers asbestos textile factory at Spotland upon which plans for developing a housing estate of 650 houses is currently being considered.

Turner Brothers Asbestos (TBA) were pioneers of asbestos material fabrication, and developed spinning and weaving processes. Production commenced in the early 1870’s, and it ended in the Spodden Valley in the mid 1990’s.


Well, what a difference 4 months makes, since this site was first posted in November LAST YEAR, to say things have gone downhill is a vast understatement, what was once a pretty good looking site is now one of the derpest derps around!

For the first hour or so, whilst exploring this place I felt totally disinterested with the place, constant crunching of glass and nothing but mess as far as the eye could see was not very appealing and the thought to abandon the explore was crossing my mind.

IMG_14352.jpg


IMG_14348.jpg
IMG_14376.jpg


IMG_14361.jpg


IMG_14377.jpg


IMG_14378.jpg


A brief rest bite from the constant crunching was found in the office, but once again, this was found to be a modern and uninteresting office with very little to offer.

IMG_14391.jpg


IMG_14393.jpg
IMG_14394.jpg


But then, things started to look up, as we entered a very 'mill looking' building, complete with familiar columns and wooden floors and a bit of machinery.

IMG_14399.jpg
IMG_14425.jpg


IMG_14401.jpg


IMG_14406.jpg


We then moved onto what was probably my favorite bit of the whole explore, I can only assume this was some sort of records room and it was jam-packed with vast amounts of paperwork (and a couple of hardcore porn mags)

IMG_14431.jpg
IMG_14436.jpg


IMG_14441.jpg


IMG_14439.jpg


IMG_14448.jpg


IMG_14453.jpg


The next part was some sort of production room which contained huge machines which looked like they had just been left, mid-production as they were complete with plastic bags which we thought contained asbestos, but looking at other photos & reports, I am now not too sure about this.

IMG_14455.jpg


IMG_14457.jpg


IMG_14462.jpg


IMG_14464.jpg
IMG_14463.jpg


Then, it was once again back to the standard fair in this place...more trashed rooms and broken glass under-foot.

IMG_14466.jpg


IMG_14478.jpg


IMG_14496.jpg


IMG_14500.jpg


Just after taking this shot (excuse the Urbex Tilt, I was short on inspiration), one of the last few bits of glass you see in upper left of the shot still left in the roof was broken by some sort of concrete-block which has been launched by one of the feral locals who have turned this place into their own play ground..queue a quick G.T.F.O moment

IMG_14502.jpg


Apologies for the number of shots, but this place is probably the biggest UK site I have visited and got a bit photo-happy, despite spending half the time feeling uninspired.

Full gallery Here

Visited with Explorer62 & a Fragglehunter
 
Last edited:
Awesome shots as per mate! Been wanting to see this place for a while now, such a shame to see it going down hill so quickly but I suppose it was bound to happen given it's place in the media over the past few months.

Cheers for sharing your shots dude!
 
Thanks for sharing mate and telliing it like it is , love the 3 rd from last pik of the drapes the best, was thinking of checking this one day but thanks for the heads up and the saving of petrol :)
 
Last edited:
Still liking the look of the place if I'm honest, and want to see it before its gone for good! Great pics ;)
 
Great shots.

The photos of the machine with bags of asbestos lying around - this is the dust/fiber extraction system. Basically they are huge vacuum suction plants. They would have ducting running from them to other areas of the factory where dust was an issue and the dust would be 'vacuumed' away and collected in the bags for disposal.

There used to be identical system in carpet factory i worked in for many years.
 
The photos of the machine with bags of asbestos lying around - this is the dust/fiber extraction system. Basically they are huge vacuum suction plants. They would have ducting running from them to other areas of the factory where dust was an issue and the dust would be 'vacuumed' away and collected in the bags for disposal.

There used to be identical system in carpet factory i worked in for many years.


Cheers for that info mate, make me feel slightly less concerned about being in that room!
 
nice shots fella. I enjoyed the place to be honest and would almost be happy to go back but feel the health risk prob isn't worth another visit.

Agree re which bits are the most interesting of the bits we saw.

Oh yes and approx 12 days after we were there a fire started at a little before 0300 , attended by 50 fire fighters and was not under control till gone 0830.
 
bet ya glad u decided to stay;)...looks like still sum interesting bits of machinary left behind, very nice close ups;)
 
Thanks again fellow explorers :)

Oh yes and approx 12 days after we were there a fire started at a little before 0300 , attended by 50 fire fighters and was not under control till gone 0830.

Every time i see a story about how a place I have previously visited has had a massive fire, I still find myself surprised at how it happens, considering the lack of lead on the roof...or infact the lack of roof in some cases and how damp they are as a result
 

Latest posts

Back
Top