London Brick Company, Part 1

Hey everyone,

This report has been such a long time coming because of the ludicrous amount of photos I've taken In Stewartby.
I've visited about 4 times now, not every time taking photos but exploring the site without being spotted whilst it was being shut down proved to be more exiting and time consuming than I'd anticipated.
Anyways due to the sheer volumes of pics I've split the explores up into 2 parts.
Origionally owned by The London Brick Company Stewartby has been owned by the Hanson group since the 1980's.
The works was forced to close down due to high sulphur dioxide emissions.
The pictures I've taken are partly live because I began exploring it whilst the plant was winding down for closure.
Anyways onto the pics and I hope you enjoy

More about the history and full set here

http://www.contaminationzone.com/Gallery56.php






One of the many underground spaces where conveyor belts run.Very dusty down here.


Long lines of bricks nearing the end of the production lines waiting for a red dye which they will never get now!





Messages left by the workers.



There were dozens of these seating areas all over the plant with little heaters, some of them that were very high up in the works were so exposed to the elements workers must have been bitterly cold working there during the winter months.


One of the many thermostats in the works.

Looks great, somewhere I think I will have to make time for soon. Cheers for posting.

RM

Fabulous, this place looks like an immense explore!

As ever some fabulous pictures, and an interesting write up on your www site. Having missed the brickworks at both Calvert and Bletchley that's a heads-up to look at this one before it's gone.

That place looks amazing, I'm loving the look of the little 'common area' with the furniture still left. Took a gander at your site too, you've been to some very impressive places, and I see you're from the MK area, I'm planning to be living that way in a few months. so if/when that happens, I'll have to speak to you about good locations that are nearby.

Keep up the good work n'all that.

Thanks you peeps, Gary yeah I found the small communal areas really interesting.
They almost looked like day time squats.
Batroy I sooo terribly wish I could have seen the works at Bletchley too.
Andy and Reaperman I still havn't finished going back, I've kept meaning to do 'one last' visit for months now I shall return on evening maybe.

GAH I forgot to post up part 2 of the exploration!

http://www.contaminationzone.com/Gallery57.php

The black and white shot of the chimneys is awesome!!

The company I used to work for was bought by the Hanson Group last year, which a few months later was bought out by Heidelberg Cement.

Absolutely cracking photos there, payno. What a superb site...so many interesting details. I can see why you keep going back! There's some amazing otherworldliness about those seating areas...can't quite put my finger on it, but totally delightful.

Looks like a great place. I really like your photographs, they all have a lovely quality to them. I especially like the close up of the bricks with 'London' written on them.

Looks a great place to explore and you have a really good eye for a shot. The chimneys shot is wonderful!

This place is great,
Had a look round today, all brick production has stopped, the Head office and Workshops are still in use, but all brick production areas are vacated.
Well worth the day out.
Inside a brick furnace.