Report - Grimsby Ice Factory - March 2014

[Oxygen Thief]

Explored with Dweeb and Turkey.

This was always an epic fail until cracked by Squirrel911. It's still a mission to get in and out, to be honest it's worth trying just for the experience of the way in.

Some History from Great Grimsby Ice Factory

And here's how it worked...

The Great Grimsby Ice Company Factory was built in 1901. Its purpose was to supply ice to preserve fish on its journey from the deep sea fishing grounds to the nation’s plates.
It is essentially a brick shelter for the ice-making machines, but typically of the Victorians, some pride was taken in the brickwork to the Gorton Street entrance, and tiny details still survive such as the initials of the Great Grimsby Ice Factory cast into the end plates of supporting beams in the tanks house walls.
The factory first used steam to power the Pontiflex (and later Linde) Ammonia compressors which made the ice. As demand for ice increased, two more tank rooms were added between 1907 and 1910.
In 1930, a modernisation programme began. Metropolitan-Vickers of Manchester was commissioned to provide new electric generators. J. & E. Hall of Dartford, Kent won the contract to replace the refrigeration equipment.
The factory expanded once more in the early 1950’s, with a seventh tank room being built. A decline in demand and changes in ice production technology led to down-scaling in 1976. The Ice Factory closed in 1990. But for the efforts of local activists, it would have been demolished soon afterwards.
English Heritage awarded a Grade II* listing to the Ice Factory. Its significance lies in the fact that it is the last surviving example of early ice-making equipment, still in place in its original place of work.

and a couple of pictures from the old trawler docks / fish market on the other side of the road...

 

[The Kwan]

This is lovely and deffinately worth its listed status, the before and after shots are remarkable really all bar the covers,paint and pigeon shit its all relatively intact.

 

[sirjonnyp]

That is lovely, love the cartoon

 

[Fairdo's]

Very nice, i've fancied the ode ice factory for a bit....

 

[wellingtonian]

Top report. What an awesome site

 

[The Stig]

Cracking stuff there OT this place has always been on my to do list

 

[PCWOX]

This site is a corker. Nice one OT

 

[raisinwing]

Always nice seeing this one.

 

[Camera Shy]

Very nice report. I'd like to see this.

 

[Altair]

Other than the copious amounts of pigeon shit, that looks proper nice and intact. Nicely done.

 

[ACID- REFLUX]

Love it

Always fancied this place but was always put off with the ABP issue and even the Google Earth views showed it too be a challenge.

Not sure i like the proposed future for the Factory though....Grand Designs

 

[Leeds(Ex)plorer]

thats sweet! nice work OT

 

[mattdonut]

good work on getting in
well worth it

 

[Session9]

Fantastic, good work.

 

[Will Knot]

Crackin' shits.....sorry 'shots' there Thanks for sharin'