Grindle
I travel alone. Wanderlust
Rüdersdorf Phosphate Works, Began life in 1899 as a cement factory operated by C.O.Wegener.
In 1939 the huge Preussag AG, mineral metal and mining corporation took over and later produced bauxite vital for the Nazis’ war effort.
Post WW2 the Soviets dismantled the plant, but it found a new lease of life in 1950 when the VEB Glühphosphatwerk Rüdersdorf was formed to make the aforementioned phosphates.
Two more kilns were added in 1972 and towards the end of the 70’s the factory came under control of the VEB Kombinat Agrochemie (agrochemicals).
German reunification spelled the end for the business, with dwindling sales and dodgy dealings from investors preceding the inevitable.
The factory gates were permanently closed in 1999.
Archive photo material sourced: www.ruedersdorf.de
We shall start with the offices, which are situated external to the well fenced and security protected works itself , also across a Edit - *PROFANITY REMOVED* river. A big Edit - *PROFANITY REMOVED* river.
Scouting round the harras fencing, it seemed to me the only way in was through the trees, back track. Time to venture into the bushes
Magnificent buildings, wonderful architecture, all secure? It seemed that way until I found an old chair, and a half open window that I could just about heave myself in through.
Not much in the basement.
Most of the rooms were stripped and bashed about throughout
Some really great wrought iron work on the stairs
The good old days when engineers, draughtsmen and the like had to think and not rely on CAD, and AI
Some of the company documentation just lying around begging to be photographed.
Now, how to cross the river?
For over the river lies the plant itself...........
In 1939 the huge Preussag AG, mineral metal and mining corporation took over and later produced bauxite vital for the Nazis’ war effort.
Post WW2 the Soviets dismantled the plant, but it found a new lease of life in 1950 when the VEB Glühphosphatwerk Rüdersdorf was formed to make the aforementioned phosphates.
Two more kilns were added in 1972 and towards the end of the 70’s the factory came under control of the VEB Kombinat Agrochemie (agrochemicals).
German reunification spelled the end for the business, with dwindling sales and dodgy dealings from investors preceding the inevitable.
The factory gates were permanently closed in 1999.
Archive photo material sourced: www.ruedersdorf.de
![42720751F1BC42F08F078D43384EBAF1.jpeg 42720751F1BC42F08F078D43384EBAF1.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/b2c/b2c15320e2d091d5f1efdd3b1dbf6ffa.jpeg)
![2C40009EB47A443BB0EEA7D7AC938D65.jpeg 2C40009EB47A443BB0EEA7D7AC938D65.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/ecc/ecc2787c6976fcd6d1ceb2055722e2f1.jpeg)
![7D21CBF994FA4596A546763DCC3B7E6B.jpeg 7D21CBF994FA4596A546763DCC3B7E6B.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/085/08560b86cb465c1331c166227692b0d2.jpeg)
We shall start with the offices, which are situated external to the well fenced and security protected works itself , also across a Edit - *PROFANITY REMOVED* river. A big Edit - *PROFANITY REMOVED* river.
Scouting round the harras fencing, it seemed to me the only way in was through the trees, back track. Time to venture into the bushes
![F0A1CBEACE944DE898A725418CFC051C.jpeg F0A1CBEACE944DE898A725418CFC051C.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/476/47667f3d05e5aa7750ddf55dcb99ef36.jpeg)
![2ED90E6D21694BFEA65852140E332D05.jpeg 2ED90E6D21694BFEA65852140E332D05.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/f2f/f2f40abe0f06bbcfe3099448889b8615.jpeg)
Magnificent buildings, wonderful architecture, all secure? It seemed that way until I found an old chair, and a half open window that I could just about heave myself in through.
![366A8A282AFF46DABF700268F351EE4F.jpeg 366A8A282AFF46DABF700268F351EE4F.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/665/6658002480cb701f9d5325e04d3a95b1.jpeg)
Not much in the basement.
![A4590A9D99C84415B4369A8ACE834684.jpeg A4590A9D99C84415B4369A8ACE834684.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/cf9/cf96660c1acd0b6b3b3c26f6eff3c2de.jpeg)
![48E434A95C1444B8AF9E3053DC94219E.jpeg 48E434A95C1444B8AF9E3053DC94219E.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/a05/a05922f8b030c69a9330c46ea2a1ee4b.jpeg)
![3EB6CCD61EED4BCFBBC5E0478EAE7709.jpeg 3EB6CCD61EED4BCFBBC5E0478EAE7709.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/c66/c662b1ac36cdcc5b63d6648fb81915c6.jpeg)
![E06388B86FE749C586154D84375B1319.jpeg E06388B86FE749C586154D84375B1319.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/d64/d646bbfebdabdc07fc89c10a15e9dbfc.jpeg)
Most of the rooms were stripped and bashed about throughout
![F6216B4C774943E2A9DDF91E8C1654FA.jpeg F6216B4C774943E2A9DDF91E8C1654FA.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/6f4/6f44ef2949adb9ad6e7a6a9206c01f83.jpeg)
![61C0879AF07A4EBF8DAF1863D165D261.jpeg 61C0879AF07A4EBF8DAF1863D165D261.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/521/521c031b7ae011d1d442fdc8d450e720.jpeg)
![A517D707F8AB4B599308D7CE63155CB8.jpeg A517D707F8AB4B599308D7CE63155CB8.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/02e/02e7522e1d4f92c7456c6e83ff328b61.jpeg)
![68072440905B43CFB5ABF6B5C89A6303.jpeg 68072440905B43CFB5ABF6B5C89A6303.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/fe1/fe1ba4549caf962409ba778997b885b4.jpeg)
![9686BE897E3441A5A4EC410C7A5B2EB7.jpeg 9686BE897E3441A5A4EC410C7A5B2EB7.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/dc7/dc7a0247a5c5666202ccfbb3830adc3e.jpeg)
Some really great wrought iron work on the stairs
![6392E0D768BB4E6DBA4C76028CC05C23.jpeg 6392E0D768BB4E6DBA4C76028CC05C23.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/39a/39ae1ea6f576b5f98c85b5bc9b167d8f.jpeg)
![22EA50C4715642778ABF5247BA05B956.jpeg 22EA50C4715642778ABF5247BA05B956.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/8f1/8f1aed2930caf2cedf168f9b6330c920.jpeg)
![332A6C953C334D05B5379A55EF107693.jpeg 332A6C953C334D05B5379A55EF107693.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/cdf/cdfa8aa3955d63613dfa5f1886fbe51f.jpeg)
![A752576F26C74096AA8C92A3FDF9E1AE.jpeg A752576F26C74096AA8C92A3FDF9E1AE.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/973/97333418c4bb0653f9d616a83bc1d592.jpeg)
The good old days when engineers, draughtsmen and the like had to think and not rely on CAD, and AI
![64160321A75544A3B0CCE255776EB6DC.jpeg 64160321A75544A3B0CCE255776EB6DC.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/1a2/1a2577a20ad16bc11cec4286187c1256.jpeg)
Some of the company documentation just lying around begging to be photographed.
![D7BF07E4AB3D4B9EB17D7426F7A080B8.jpeg D7BF07E4AB3D4B9EB17D7426F7A080B8.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/f99/f99068bfcc88283f8534d71a02e17a9d.jpeg)
![AF123814649D46AF9CA8C0948EA7DC5A.jpeg AF123814649D46AF9CA8C0948EA7DC5A.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/2ea/2ea2db1bf53da08f7055efbb527f0355.jpeg)
![2BE939EA0D8048428B4CDC5782AB47F9.jpeg 2BE939EA0D8048428B4CDC5782AB47F9.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/dbd/dbdf885bd529a391e3020eaa1720d254.jpeg)
![2D061FDC0E3C430A9E89CE6FB2B20944.jpeg 2D061FDC0E3C430A9E89CE6FB2B20944.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/42e/42eaf0fa12e5bbbc9b4f0393e99d75d6.jpeg)
![78E8D3E9E9234A6A8356F3914239326D.jpeg 78E8D3E9E9234A6A8356F3914239326D.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/0fb/0fb8ff1013996345e237c252f729bc83.jpeg)
![85CE947D579B43309CB1FCAF18B2A789.jpeg 85CE947D579B43309CB1FCAF18B2A789.jpeg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/98b/98b9fc65d46390db7f503c62081e0ca4.jpeg)
Now, how to cross the river?
For over the river lies the plant itself...........
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