1. The History
Woollen & Co Sheffield was first established in 1883 by Edwin Woollen, a sign writer and Frederick Ibbotson a lithographic printer. Woollens dealt with bespoke signage including hand painted signage. In 1897 Woollens become a limited company and was based at 35 Carver Street in Sheffield. At some point they moved to Love Street.
In 2008, after 125 years, the company ceased trading altogether following a takeover and the site closed. The takeover was prompted by the fast-changing digital age as many of their competitors could offer signs and graphic solutions at much quicker and cheaper rates. Several former employees went on to form a new Woollens while maintaining some of the old customer base at their new premises at Shepcote Enterprise Park, Europa Drive, Sheffield, S9. The new Woollen Signs continue to pride themselves on their workmanship, fresh ideas, better quality materials and staff being trained as qualified sign writers without the use of computers.
2. The Explore
This place was a regular explore up to about four years ago when the place got sealed up. Never got around to this place back then so when a tip-off came that it was doable again I went over to check the place out. It was indeed doable. There are two sides to the place. It was just the first side that was accessible. It’s pretty trashed and been taken-over by our feathered friends but these is still enough to hold your attention for an hour.
3. The Pictures
A few externals:
img8233 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8235 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8236 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8239 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And we’re in:
Woollens 2 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not much left on the ground floor:
img8206 by HughieDW, on Flickr
by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8230 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Apart from the odd sign:
img8204 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8185 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and some very old PCs:
img8202 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8198 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8192 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8190 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8186 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The first floor is pretty featureless:
img8214 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8209 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Old cooker:
Woollens 1 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the second floor:
img8224 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8223 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Paint cupboard:
img8228 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8226 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8222 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8221 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Pigeon poo city:
img8225 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8220 by HughieDW, on Flickr
An old cheque from 1966:
img8217 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8210 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The Woollen Sign’s signs:
img8213 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8240 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8238 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Woollen & Co Sheffield was first established in 1883 by Edwin Woollen, a sign writer and Frederick Ibbotson a lithographic printer. Woollens dealt with bespoke signage including hand painted signage. In 1897 Woollens become a limited company and was based at 35 Carver Street in Sheffield. At some point they moved to Love Street.
In 2008, after 125 years, the company ceased trading altogether following a takeover and the site closed. The takeover was prompted by the fast-changing digital age as many of their competitors could offer signs and graphic solutions at much quicker and cheaper rates. Several former employees went on to form a new Woollens while maintaining some of the old customer base at their new premises at Shepcote Enterprise Park, Europa Drive, Sheffield, S9. The new Woollen Signs continue to pride themselves on their workmanship, fresh ideas, better quality materials and staff being trained as qualified sign writers without the use of computers.
2. The Explore
This place was a regular explore up to about four years ago when the place got sealed up. Never got around to this place back then so when a tip-off came that it was doable again I went over to check the place out. It was indeed doable. There are two sides to the place. It was just the first side that was accessible. It’s pretty trashed and been taken-over by our feathered friends but these is still enough to hold your attention for an hour.
3. The Pictures
A few externals:
img8235 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And we’re in:
Not much left on the ground floor:
by HughieDW, on Flickr
Apart from the odd sign:
…and some very old PCs:
The first floor is pretty featureless:
Old cooker:
On to the second floor:
img8224 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8223 by HughieDW, on FlickrPaint cupboard:
Pigeon poo city:
An old cheque from 1966:
The Woollen Sign’s signs:
img8213 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8238 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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