Volcrepe, Glossop, Derbyshire, June 2019

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HughieD

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1. The History
Volcrepe Ltd was a large former rubber producing factory in Glossop, Derbyshire. Formed in 1931 and based in the 200-years old Woods Mill, it began manufacturing rubber soles for footwear. Later on, it began producing specialist equipment to the Ministry of Defence including gas masks for horses and the Home Guard as well as radio equipment as part of the war effort between 1939-1945. In the 1950s the company was still producing footwear soling, but with the market becoming more and more competitive it started concentrating its efforts into cellular rubbers which it had earlier pioneered. It went on to produce produced rubbers for the aviation industry, oil, automobile, domestic and communications industries.

Woods Mill was at the eastern end of what was originally the larger Howard town Mill complex built by John Wood in the 19th Century. In its day it was one of the largest integrated cotton mills in England. Volcrepe was split over in two sections with the aptly named Milltown road dividing it. The only connecting point was a small walkway over Mill Street emblazoned with the company’s logo. To the east of Milltown were the extensive single storey drying shed. The factory closed down in 2002 when Volcrepe merged with another company, St Albans Rubber and has been empty.

In October 2015 High Peak Borough Council were split in a decision of five votes to five as to whether the site should be demolished and redeveloped. However, the councillor with the deciding vote decreed the mill should in fact be demolished. Now all of the site to the west of Milltown has gone leaving a smaller three-storey mill to east of Milltown and some of the perimeter buildings, including former weaving sheds and administrative buildings, around the former drying sheds still standing.

2. The Explore
There were quite a few reports on this place dating back to around 2011/12. That would have been the time to come here. It was famous for its bridge over the road connecting the two sites. See the report by @ojay to get a feel for the place:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/volcrepe-rubber-mill-glossop-jan-2011.60319/#post-1098314

On initial sight it looked like I was too late to this place. All of Woods Mill, the bridge and its surrounding buildings to the west of Milltown have now all been completely demo’ed. To the east a smaller mill building still stands albeit completely sealed. The extensive single storey drying sheds have all gone leaving a big open expanse and a few buildings round the site’s perimeter. What’s left is only a fraction the site but there’s still enough to merit half-an-hour of your time.

3. The Pictures

48157579366_22578c3798_b.jpgimg1680 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157697612_ce23c40dca_b.jpgimg1675 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157684967_8006f4fce1_b.jpgimg1676 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157642672_91b5d89eee_b.jpgimg1681 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157624937_836e70744d_b.jpgimg1682 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157611697_54aae12067_b.jpgimg1683 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157600677_6121f1c2c4_b.jpgimg1687 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157563937_dce8d3863e_b.jpgimg1688crop by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157444991_5b88d29282_b.jpgimg1690 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157508512_023eb56d22_b.jpgimg1691 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157495207_1222384ce7_b.jpgimg1692 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157483642_7ca80ff8fc_b.jpgimg1693 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157472662_eb3055b943_b.jpgimg1694 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157435662_e2842ea59d_b.jpgimg1697 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157423062_3032d8a594_b.jpgimg1698 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157413082_0be1d5a57e_b.jpgimg1700 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157372457_59725abc1f_b.jpgimg1702 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157340142_4a3c24fab3_b.jpgimg1704 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157992362_3ae8ac12d1_b.jpgVolcrepe 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157976762_9c2491a4a1_b.jpgVolcrepe 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157864081_445273bd1c_b.jpgVolcrepe 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48157933317_b2716df584_b.jpgVolcrepe 07 crop by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
Not much left now..
Was there anything rubber left behind? I was hoping for a shoe sole!
 

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