1. The History
The former Stanley tools factory is located in the Neepsend area of Sheffield. Originally founded in the US in 1857 by Henry Stanley in New Britain, Connecticut, the company has been associated with the manufacture of fine quality tools for well over a century, including the world-famous Stanley knife. In 1937, the company looked to expand production overseas and chose Sheffield for its manufacturing base in the UK. They took over the site of brace and drill maker A. Chapman who were located at Woodside Lane. Renaming it The Stanley Tools Factory, it was originally built in the 1850’s and provided ample room with its 100,000 Square foot of floor-space, spread over four floors along with a two-floor office block.
In October1979, this factory was the scene a payroll robbery. Posing as decorators painting the stairwell, two men threw acid in the face of a security guard who was delivering the wages and then clubbed him with an iron bar. They then made off with £71,000 in cash and despite good descriptions of the assailants, the case was never solved.
The factory continued to manufacture tools until 2008 when, after 71 years of production in Sheffield, Stanley Tools consolidated its UK operations nearby in Hellaby, near Rotherham. After that, the factory quickly fell into a state of disrepair. It was then put on the market and when a buyer for the whole site couldn't be found, some of the buildings were sold off to smaller businesses, including a car dealer, a scrap merchant and as storage space. Other parts of the factory were used at weekends as a zombie-themed Airsoft venue.
2. The Explore
Not too sure why it’s taken me so long to get my report on this place done. For some reason I never got round to exploring and so It was conspicuous by its absence. Glad I did in the end as i didn't know there was so much to see there. In the end it was a pretty decent explore and despite it being pretty stripped was still a decent explore. Explored with three non-forum member friends.
3. The Pictures
Definitely in the right place!
And we’re in.
First up, a reminder of the factory’s use, post-closure:
Some decent graph:
Moving on to the reception area and some lovely old features here:
Stanley box!
The famous Stanley world map (who nicked the UK!!!):
And an old organ:
Up the stairs:
And on and over into the main building:
Connecting bridge:
Plenty of graff:
Loads of old tyres:
Old extractor hood:
Some nice old pipework:
Looking back out over the factory:
The former Stanley tools factory is located in the Neepsend area of Sheffield. Originally founded in the US in 1857 by Henry Stanley in New Britain, Connecticut, the company has been associated with the manufacture of fine quality tools for well over a century, including the world-famous Stanley knife. In 1937, the company looked to expand production overseas and chose Sheffield for its manufacturing base in the UK. They took over the site of brace and drill maker A. Chapman who were located at Woodside Lane. Renaming it The Stanley Tools Factory, it was originally built in the 1850’s and provided ample room with its 100,000 Square foot of floor-space, spread over four floors along with a two-floor office block.
In October1979, this factory was the scene a payroll robbery. Posing as decorators painting the stairwell, two men threw acid in the face of a security guard who was delivering the wages and then clubbed him with an iron bar. They then made off with £71,000 in cash and despite good descriptions of the assailants, the case was never solved.
The factory continued to manufacture tools until 2008 when, after 71 years of production in Sheffield, Stanley Tools consolidated its UK operations nearby in Hellaby, near Rotherham. After that, the factory quickly fell into a state of disrepair. It was then put on the market and when a buyer for the whole site couldn't be found, some of the buildings were sold off to smaller businesses, including a car dealer, a scrap merchant and as storage space. Other parts of the factory were used at weekends as a zombie-themed Airsoft venue.
2. The Explore
Not too sure why it’s taken me so long to get my report on this place done. For some reason I never got round to exploring and so It was conspicuous by its absence. Glad I did in the end as i didn't know there was so much to see there. In the end it was a pretty decent explore and despite it being pretty stripped was still a decent explore. Explored with three non-forum member friends.
3. The Pictures
Definitely in the right place!
And we’re in.
First up, a reminder of the factory’s use, post-closure:
Some decent graph:
Moving on to the reception area and some lovely old features here:
Stanley box!
The famous Stanley world map (who nicked the UK!!!):
And an old organ:
Up the stairs:
And on and over into the main building:
Connecting bridge:
Plenty of graff:
Loads of old tyres:
Old extractor hood:
Some nice old pipework:
Looking back out over the factory:
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