Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Pipes!

History

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd was a paper mill which specialised in the production of cigarette papers which were exported worldwide. The old factory and most of the contents now lay abandoned most of the equipment looks as if the workers just vanished with huge rolls of cigarette papers still hanging on rolls in the production process machines! The particular site, also known as Robert Fletcher (Greenfield) Limited initial opened in 1921 and then closed in 2001 during financial crisis within the company which saw the resignation of a number of the directors and the loss of 120 staff. The Business itself continues to trade to this day, at another site of course, and has managed to streamline the process scaling back on production and currently employs around 50 staff.

Our Visit

Visited with Andy de Kay of Behind Closed Doors and Matt (Kreigaffe) on our second attempt to see this place… fortunately this time was a success! This is one of those locations which has been on my to-do list for quite some time. Whilst I do like industrial locations they aren’t always my first choice when choosing places to visit, if they are new they need some sort of wow factor but for these older places with nice decay you’re generally onto a winner from the start. Fletchers Paper Mill has so much to offer photographically, lots of old machines and contents left behind from when the factory still functioned… Rolls of cigarette papers still left hung on the machinery were a stark reminder of how the place simply closed its doors with little notice given to the workers.

Whilst the factory floors had loads of cool features ranging from miles of piping and decaying machinery covered in moss and vegetation… the offices had lots of clues to the history of the factory, old photographs scattered on the floor, mechanics plans on sketching boards stamped with the company logo, workers uniforms sealed in packaging never worn and a medical bay stocked with supplies it was pretty astonishing and really cool to see.

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Loud Noises!!

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Office

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Machinery

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Breathing Apparatus

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Office

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Breathing Apparatus

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Wicker Basket

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Danger

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Back Water

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Kelly Brook

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill – Caution Wet Floor

Robert Fletchers & Sons Ltd Paper Mill

Don’t forget to check out part 2 for loads more photographs!**

If you’ve made it this far… thanks for reading / checking out the pictures. Leave me a comment below or hit the like button to let me know you’ve enjoyed the shots and to encourage me to keep posting more 🙂

Enjoyed this report, want to see more from here? then check out the report at Behind Closed Doors here: Fletcher’s Paper Mill

Limited Edition and Canvas prints, as well as regular prints, are available for all of the images above just ask me about prices.

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