Thread: Cooper`s Woodside Abattoir, Crich, October 2008

Woodside Abattoir, Crich, opened in 1976, it belonged to Alan Dakin Ltd. At some point in time between 1976 and when I first worked there in 1997, ownership transferred to Harry Cooper (Butchers) Ltd. As far as I can remember, Cooper`s must have stopped trading sometime around 1999 / 2000. Until fairly recently the bold blue Harry Cooper (Butchers) Ltd sign, on the front of the building, could be seen clearly, at the top of the drive, from the road, it is now well hidden behind trees.




Sale sign found in the grass at the bottom of the drive






View up the drive





Loading bay




Entrance stairs to offices & Staff Only door to Slaughter hall












Switches under the stairs











Meat Inspectors Office
once the staff canteen












There is very little left inside the main slaughter hall (no lights!) apart from the legging stand and part of the knocking box, everything else including the rails, were auctioned off. Hatch through to gut room (just to left of centre) gutting stand gone. Next to the hatch is the Passageway through to slaughterman`s mess room





Cattle legging stand, cattle blood trough behind

What`s left of the cattle knocking box





Pig hall, pig tank gone, pig stun pen on
the left with pig lairage beyond




On the front yard







Cattle lairage







Ramp to first floor sheep lairage





Central bay of sheep lairage






Sheep race, entrance to stunning pen



Bottom of sheep race, far left and stunning pen door, steps gone, view from inspection area









Part of inspection area & entrance to fridges & loading bay




Loading bay








Lairage man`s cottage, now derelict, to the side of loading bay





Back yard

Well, I eat meat, but the sight of those killing rooms has seriously jeopardised my carnivore lifestyle.

I must admit it does look a lot grimmer now than it did when it was up and running

Pity you couldn't photograph the machinary. I must say, it isn't the most pleasant sight though.

What's a legging stand and a knocking box? Or do I not want to know?

There is something somehow nasty about seeing that lol, i always thought it would take a lot to phase me, but the descriptions of all those stunning pens and blood urghhhh lol. Brilliant write up and pictures :)

This place has moved me one step closer to giving up meat pies.

An odd question but did the place smell? You know - from any animal fluids etc? Just curious!

Hi Looloo, a legging stand is where the feet are removed and removal of the hide (from the hind legs) begins, then the carcase is transferred from the bleed rail onto the main rail for further processing. A knocking box is the start of the whole process, where humane stunning takes place, I hope that`s not too much information for you, I kept it brief. It really is all done humanely. Cheers, concretegarden

Many thanks for the positive feedback, urbtography . Cheers, concretegarden

Mmmmm 'condemned meat'..... :p

There's something about these places....

Hi sausage, what smell there is, you soon get used to. It really is all done hygienically. The state of the place now is a world removed from how it was when it was up and running. Cheers, concretegarden