Syngenta Agrochemicals - Verdley House, Fernhurst (May 2017)

Newbie here...I've been looking at UE reports online for years, but never done an explore myself! Photos taken on my iPhone so apologies for the quality.

I was inspired to visit this place after seeing a report about it on here recently. The site really is huge and it's easy to get lost once inside. It was pretty well cleared out when Syngenta left, so there's not a lot of interesting stuff to see - but still a worthwhile explore. There is a basement but I didn't go down.

I spent about 3 hours inside before I heard some undesirables smashing glass upstairs. I've done some searching online and this is what I understand is the history of the site;

In 1945, the site became home to ICI’s Plant Protection Division. Verdley House was constructed in the early 1980s. In 1993, ICI de-merged its pharmaceutical bio-science businesses and Zeneca Agrochemicals was formed. Zeneca Agrochemicals and Novartis Agribusiness merged in 2000 to create Syngenta. In December 2001, the company officially left site and re-located to the Surrey Research Park.

Aspinal of London occupies the pyramid-shaped building at the front of the site, which Verdley House is connected to by a walkway. The site also had its own fire station; which is in use by an auctioneer (or so I believe).

Developers Comer Group bought the site in 2003. There has been a lot of talk over the years about homes being built on the site.































Full set here - Syngenta Agrochemicals - Verdley House, Fernhurst (May 2017) - Album on Imgur

Welcome and thank you!

Great report and welcome! I do quite like this place, you're certainly right about easily getting lost.

Gromr123 said:

Great report and welcome! I do quite like this place, you're certainly right about easily getting lost.

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It was your report that inspired me to go have a look

Didn't manage to find the BT room though.

Nicely done for your first post.

Welcome to the forum! Nice to see this place come up again. Such a big place. The wooden boards on the windows weren't there when I went.

Brewtal said:

The wooden boards on the windows weren't there when I went.

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I couldn't understand why they've been put there. They looked recent too. If it's an attempt to secure the building, you'd seal all the open doors first surely?

Good that, Welcome along Thanks