Visited with Treadstone and the girlfriend
History (shamelessly stolen from frink, hope you don't mind)
What a site this is! The amount of items left in situ is amazing, it's like they just walked out one day and never returned. We were unsure whether we were going to be able to access the main building after poking around the outbuildings however, until we found one chink in it's armour.
It was weird wandering around the labs, really didn't feel good but I loved it. Certainly I'd say its the least pleasant place I have explored. Unfortunately however, we only scratched the surface, as after being in for a mere hour or so, we tripped a PIR so beat a hasty retreat and got away safely.
The milkfloat!
Cheers for looking, more pics here BIBRA
History (shamelessly stolen from frink, hope you don't mind)
British law states that any new drug used for medicine must be tested on at least two different types of live mammal. One of these must be a large non-rodent type animal.
Formed in 1960 BIBRA (British Industrial Biological Research Association) was the most prominent animal testing laboratory in the UK.
BIBRA would give advice and carry out research to assist the food and related industries in their task of ensuring that foods complied with the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, it would provide data to aid the Government in establishing regulations concerning the composition of foods.
In performing these functions, it would act also as the ‘watch-dog’ for the general public.
Its income came from member subscriptions and contract testing, mostly carried out for its member companies.
The last publicly available membership (1994) includes over 100 companies such as Boots PLC, British Petroleum, Fisons PLC, Ciba Geigy, Imperial Tobacco, Faberge, Philip Morris, Monsanto, and Nestle.
These firms require tests for drugs, cosmetics, food additives, household products, pesticides and industrial chemicals.
During 1994, BIBRA carried out 22,000 experiments on animals.
BIBRA also received financial support from the Government and, in addition, has been fortunate to receive generous grants for specific research projects from various independent bodies, including the Nuffield Foundation, the British Nutrition Foundation and the Wellcome Trust to name but a few.
In 1997 the change in attitudes towards animal testing (vivisection) led to 150 activists marching on BIBRA toxicology laboratory to be greeted by a massive police presence, including around 20 riot vans, police horses and police dogs. Outnumbered, the crowd made several unsuccessful attempts to gain access, but were forced back by police. Eventually they carried out a noisy march through the surrounding streets.
This incident and the planting of incendiary bombs by activists under two of the scientists’ vehicles led to bad press and resentment towards BIBRA.
In 2003 the leading BIBRA scientists broke away to form a new company and two years later they asset stripped BIBRA for its best scientists and TRACE, the world famous toxicological database and databank.
What was left (A sullied name and an old contaminated lab) was 'sold' to Surrey Clinical Ltd. Unfortunately Surrey Clinical went into liquidation in 2005.
What a site this is! The amount of items left in situ is amazing, it's like they just walked out one day and never returned. We were unsure whether we were going to be able to access the main building after poking around the outbuildings however, until we found one chink in it's armour.
It was weird wandering around the labs, really didn't feel good but I loved it. Certainly I'd say its the least pleasant place I have explored. Unfortunately however, we only scratched the surface, as after being in for a mere hour or so, we tripped a PIR so beat a hasty retreat and got away safely.
The milkfloat!
Cheers for looking, more pics here BIBRA