Report - Merseyside Food Products (Liverpool, Sept, 2017)

[urbanchemist]

This place was one the first explores I did after arriving in Liverpool, at least 15 years ago. It was, and still is, a total wreck but fun to poke around in with sets of stairs, little rooms, a roof etc. The site is fairly large and now quite overgrown, sandwiched between Veolia oils to the north and the engine works building along Brunswick place to the south. Across the road is another old favourite, United Mersey Supplies (the one with castellations), which is still accessible despite some recent welding-up.

Comparing the 2010 reports from kevsy21 and georgie with what I remember, very little has changed - and judging by the lack of footprints in the dust it seems people seldom visit. The easiest access is round the back, through several cathedrals of waste:

..into a burn-out shed with offices on the road side

My favourite - an open-air lab with weathered wooden fittings and vegetation.

Responsible warning - there is at least one dangerous-looking wall and some rotten floors - maybe not such a good idea to do this one solo.

 

[pigeonboy]

Great report! Must get myself down here. Your pictures look brilliant

 

[Xan_Asmodi]

I'm really not sure what I was expecting, especially reading the introductory paragraph. This is a really, really good report considering. Nice one mate!

 

[dave]

Was here last week and was going to have a look at this but ran out of time i did wander into that old car parts garage place next door didnt bother with any internal pics. Wishing i had gone in where you went looks better than the car parts warehouse, yes good work enjoyed your report.

 

[urbanchemist]

Thanks, I also checked out the car parts place as a route into the corner warehouse ('engine shed' just visible on the Regent road face ). Couldn't get further than the first floor however - view down into the car parts courtyard:

 

[urbanchemist]

I'm really not sure what I was expecting, especially reading the introductory paragraph. This is a really, really good report considering. Nice one mate!

Thanks - seems to be one these places that actually gets better as nature takes over again...

 

[cratedigger]

From 1986 until 1989 I was company microbiologist at this site. The sets of broken windows at the front of the building on the first floor were the laboratories.
The main photograph shows the chemistry laboratory, my microbiology laboratory was next door.
The larger windows to the left provided light to a large open plan reception / office area. Within the factory, the main area had various packing machines for margarines, from 250g paper wrapped packets to 2 Kg catering packs. A second packing area contained a machine that produced tinned margarine for the M.o.D. who supplied it to the Army overseas. It felt very strange to see photographs of a place I have not been in for nearly 30 years !

 

[BrainL]

Good report that mate, really is very overgrown isnt it!

 

[urbanchemist]

From 1986 until 1989 I was company microbiologist at this site. The sets of broken windows at the front of the building on the first floor were the laboratories.
The main photograph shows the chemistry laboratory, my microbiology laboratory was next door.
The larger windows to the left provided light to a large open plan reception / office area. Within the factory, the main area had various packing machines for margarines, from 250g paper wrapped packets to 2 Kg catering packs. A second packing area contained a machine that produced tinned margarine for the M.o.D. who supplied it to the Army overseas. It felt very strange to see photographs of a place I have not been in for nearly 30 years !

Thanks for the information - I had no idea this place was a marg factory! I suppose the labs must have been for quality control if the stuff was actually made there by blending oils, fats etc. If you are local you could always pop in yourself I suppose. Incidentally, any idea what went on in the warehouse next door on the corner? The one that says 'engine works' on the front.

 

[albino-jay]

That car parts place is where we ended up a couple of months ago. Looked well dodgy

 

[urbanchemist]

That car parts place is where we ended up a couple of months ago. Looked well dodgy

Not that place, the one further along on the corner of Brunswick and Regent - open window on the first floor with a camera right above it

 

[albino-jay]

Not that place, the one further along on the corner of Brunswick and Regent - open window on the first floor with a camera right above it

We opened the shutter inside and ended up into that courtyard wth that transit

 

[Steve Crick]

I worked at Merseyside foods from 1968 to 1980. I started in Cost Office and ended up as Production planner . I enjoyed working there and made a lot of good friends. The plant was run down when Leo Gurwitsch who started it retired . Union International brought in some non oil men including A Roy Griffin and Ian Burnett , the latter a meat man who had not got a clue how to run a site! . It should have been expanded and gone on 7 day refining . I moved to Leon Frenkel in Kent , and became Production and Engineering Director then British Arkady in Trafford , where I was Site manager and ended my career as General manager of Trafford Edible Oil Refiners , the biggest Repeater refinery for bulk oils in Europe . I remember many past employees of MFP including the three Mary's , Mary Williamson , Mary Egan and Mary Davis . I still see Eddie Burton in the Strand , he was a brilliant refinery supervisor . I still have the drawings of the factory. We supplied all the major supermarkets of the time. I am now retired and live "back home" in Formby .

 

[urbanchemist]

Thanks for the info - interesting to hear from another person who worked here. Its one of things one wonders about when climbing around in these old wrecks taking pictures - who worked here, what was the oven used for etc.
Can't be too long before its demolished as urban regeneration makes its slow way north.

 

[Steve Crick]

I have recently put some notes about Merseyside Foods on Facbook , the Kirkdale group , and had some replies , lovely to hear from people I worked with going back to 1968-1980. Was a great place to work , and very sad to see state of buildings now. To think nearly 250 people earned their livlihood there . Wish I had taken some photos when up and running. I moved to Trafford Refiners in 1991 -1997 , and rebuilt that site . I have lots of photos of that . Since been demolished , and now a MUFC car park , what a waste!