Burgoyne Burbidges and Co. Chemical works
Intro
So as Mrwhite has already said, what a place. What was once a large factory has only a small section left but what's inside quickly makes up for it. Hope this report raises a bit of awareness for the site as it really is a nice little characterful building and holds an incredible amount of heritage and history. As already been stated, amazed it's not been done before! Even by me to be honest. Anyway, here's the report, enjoy.
History
Burgoyne Burbidges was a small company set up in around 1714 and began producing glassware and chemicals on a small scale at a site in 16 Coleman street, London EC2. From here until 1864 there is no documentation of any history, but in 1864 the company was run by Thomas and Fredrick Burbidge under the name of Burgoyne, Burbidges & Squire on a larger scale which suggests the company had expanded. Then by 1875 they were known as: Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax and Farries, Wholesale and Export Druggists, London when Julius Cyriax became a partner in the company, the stamps and makers marks of the company from then on included a CF in recognition of Cyriax, even after his death 1892.
At this time they exported drugs to America ad other countries.
1892 saw them change their name yet again to simply Burgoyne Burbides and Co.
In 1888 they were featured in the magazine the engineer with this description and illustrations:
1892 Saw Burgoyne and Burbidges move to the current site we visited. Later on around 1940-50 an extention was added to the main building on the 3rd floor which has rotten completely.
Burgoyne Burbidges and Co. dissolved in 1952 leaving the current site empty.
Shortly after closure saw the rest of the factory demolished to make way for large social housing apartments which left the main building still standing on its own and empty.
New use was later found in 1960 for the front building that had been empty for 8 years when East Ham fire station took over most of the building. At a later date the derelict section was used for storage and the yard is full of crates that are slowly decaying.
Future uses have been proposed including a social club and art center but none have come to anything.
Hopefully something is done soon! It's a lovely solid building, and would be a real shame if it were to perish.
The visit
So I was reminded of this by a rather random image of it on Google. I'd researched it before and had never even noticed the lead that was put up a couple of years ago until i was researching the place the other day. marked it on the map and went that day with MrWhite kind of spontaneously and really glad we did! One of the nicest small industrial sites I've ever seen.
We got on site not expecting it to be as big, but even from the front you can tell it was once an impressive frontage. Managed to get ourselves in and out easy enough despite the
fire station being the other side of a wall from us and local houses that seemingly look down upon the site.
Lovely place, hope the pictures show the site as nicely as we saw it! Enjoy
Pictures
The frontage
Back of the building
Moving on upwards into the storage
The next room surprised me, storage areas, nice bit of lifting equipment and some nice decor in places
On to the office/admin area
The impressive front reception
Next up is another work shop/storage area of sorts
Moving up, The arch
Upper floor offices, toilets and canteen
Intro
So as Mrwhite has already said, what a place. What was once a large factory has only a small section left but what's inside quickly makes up for it. Hope this report raises a bit of awareness for the site as it really is a nice little characterful building and holds an incredible amount of heritage and history. As already been stated, amazed it's not been done before! Even by me to be honest. Anyway, here's the report, enjoy.
History
Burgoyne Burbidges was a small company set up in around 1714 and began producing glassware and chemicals on a small scale at a site in 16 Coleman street, London EC2. From here until 1864 there is no documentation of any history, but in 1864 the company was run by Thomas and Fredrick Burbidge under the name of Burgoyne, Burbidges & Squire on a larger scale which suggests the company had expanded. Then by 1875 they were known as: Burgoyne, Burbidges, Cyriax and Farries, Wholesale and Export Druggists, London when Julius Cyriax became a partner in the company, the stamps and makers marks of the company from then on included a CF in recognition of Cyriax, even after his death 1892.
At this time they exported drugs to America ad other countries.
1892 saw them change their name yet again to simply Burgoyne Burbides and Co.
In 1888 they were featured in the magazine the engineer with this description and illustrations:
1892 Saw Burgoyne and Burbidges move to the current site we visited. Later on around 1940-50 an extention was added to the main building on the 3rd floor which has rotten completely.
Burgoyne Burbidges and Co. dissolved in 1952 leaving the current site empty.
Shortly after closure saw the rest of the factory demolished to make way for large social housing apartments which left the main building still standing on its own and empty.
New use was later found in 1960 for the front building that had been empty for 8 years when East Ham fire station took over most of the building. At a later date the derelict section was used for storage and the yard is full of crates that are slowly decaying.
Future uses have been proposed including a social club and art center but none have come to anything.
Hopefully something is done soon! It's a lovely solid building, and would be a real shame if it were to perish.
The visit
So I was reminded of this by a rather random image of it on Google. I'd researched it before and had never even noticed the lead that was put up a couple of years ago until i was researching the place the other day. marked it on the map and went that day with MrWhite kind of spontaneously and really glad we did! One of the nicest small industrial sites I've ever seen.
We got on site not expecting it to be as big, but even from the front you can tell it was once an impressive frontage. Managed to get ourselves in and out easy enough despite the
fire station being the other side of a wall from us and local houses that seemingly look down upon the site.
Lovely place, hope the pictures show the site as nicely as we saw it! Enjoy
Pictures
The frontage
Back of the building
Moving on upwards into the storage
The next room surprised me, storage areas, nice bit of lifting equipment and some nice decor in places
On to the office/admin area
The impressive front reception
Next up is another work shop/storage area of sorts
Moving up, The arch
Upper floor offices, toilets and canteen
and drawings 
