Well, it's been too long since I posted anything on here, so I thought I'd do something about it. I actually took most of these pics last year, but then my laptop died and I've only recently got around to dismantling it to get at the hard drive.
To avoid causing anyone disappointment (in the somewhat unlikely event that any of you have a burning desire to visit an abandoned pot-pourri factory and come home smelling like an old lady's bathroom) I should say that this place was completely demolished in August.
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Abingworth Farm was bought by A. G. Linfield & Sons, nurserymen, in 1945. Linfield's converted the old dairy farm buildings and built a number of large sheds for growing mushrooms, then considered a luxury product which would command high prices at market. By 1960 the firm was the largest mushroom grower in Europe, using manure from its pig and poultry farms to produce compost, and employing 600 people.
As production techniques improved and shipping capabilities allowed more foreign imports, mushroom prices fell and Linfield's concentrated production on their nearby Chesswood Farm, leaving only a few sheds in production at Abingworth. The rest of the sheds were let out as light industrial units for a while, but eventually the whole farm closed down and demolition began in 2014.
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By the time I visited in December, only two buildings were still standing: part of the retained mushroom growing facility and a converted building last used as a pot-pourri factory. The place was falling down and reeked of perfume, but since I don't think there's ever been a report on a derelict pot-pourri factory, I decided to make this the first.
Pot-pourri factory buildings
Pot-pourri factory buildings, entrance blocked up using mushroom boxes
Inside the pot-pourri factory
Further up the corridor, the floor was covered with these.
Lotus seed pods (with apologies to trypophobes)
Dried seed pods, bark shavings and flowers were soaked in perfume to produce scented potpourri. The smell in this section was almost unbearable.
Mushroom growing tunnel
Large growing shed.
More images and history on my website: DerelictMisc/Abingworth Nurseries
Thanks for reading,
Arch.
To avoid causing anyone disappointment (in the somewhat unlikely event that any of you have a burning desire to visit an abandoned pot-pourri factory and come home smelling like an old lady's bathroom) I should say that this place was completely demolished in August.
~~~~
Abingworth Farm was bought by A. G. Linfield & Sons, nurserymen, in 1945. Linfield's converted the old dairy farm buildings and built a number of large sheds for growing mushrooms, then considered a luxury product which would command high prices at market. By 1960 the firm was the largest mushroom grower in Europe, using manure from its pig and poultry farms to produce compost, and employing 600 people.
As production techniques improved and shipping capabilities allowed more foreign imports, mushroom prices fell and Linfield's concentrated production on their nearby Chesswood Farm, leaving only a few sheds in production at Abingworth. The rest of the sheds were let out as light industrial units for a while, but eventually the whole farm closed down and demolition began in 2014.
~~~~
By the time I visited in December, only two buildings were still standing: part of the retained mushroom growing facility and a converted building last used as a pot-pourri factory. The place was falling down and reeked of perfume, but since I don't think there's ever been a report on a derelict pot-pourri factory, I decided to make this the first.
Pot-pourri factory buildings
Pot-pourri factory buildings, entrance blocked up using mushroom boxes
Inside the pot-pourri factory
Further up the corridor, the floor was covered with these.
Lotus seed pods (with apologies to trypophobes)
Dried seed pods, bark shavings and flowers were soaked in perfume to produce scented potpourri. The smell in this section was almost unbearable.
Mushroom growing tunnel
Large growing shed.
More images and history on my website: DerelictMisc/Abingworth Nurseries
Thanks for reading,
Arch.
