Pilkington Grass Factory
Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

History

Construction of the factory began in 1919 but it apparently opened in 1922 at great cost to the Pilkington company which was established in 1826 over in St Helens. The site was chosen due to its canal side location and access to local coal and sand. In 1923 Pilkington’s, in collaboration with Ford in the States, developed a continuous flow process for the manufacture of glass plate and a method of continuous grinding. However in the 1950′s Pilkington’s developed the “float” method of glass production (the molten glass is poured onto a bath of molten tin at 1000C). This was much cheaper as it did not require the grinding and polishing processes. Pilkington’s quickly set about converting all their factories to this new technology with the exception of the Doncaster plant which retained the old method of production.

At its peak the factory had around 3,000 employees but by 1966 the plant was only running at 56% capacity and eventually the doors closed in 2008. The site was then sold in 2009 and has remained abandoned ever since. I’m not sure what the plans are for the site but there certainly doesn’t seem to be any signs that the area is to be redeveloped.

Our Visit

This was the second location of the day, joined by Ryan we were having a bit of a reccy visit looking for a site that had been eluding me for a while. We couldn’t find it but chased up a couple of other leads, one was a none starter the other was a little overground detached house. After those we decided to check this place out before heading home. This place is massive! I’d seen photos of the inside before so I had half an idea of the scale of this place but until you see it with your own eyes the photos don’t do it justice! Probably one of the most fun journeys to the site going through fields, marshland then eventually scaling an old disused bridge over the water. We ventured inside and had a quick wander around before noticing that we weren’t alone. After bagging a few photos we headed back out the way we came which allowed us to get a couple of shots of the exterior. Well impressed with this place, not only the size but considering how long its been empty and relatively open there was still a fair bit to see! Favourite bit had to be climbing the cranes at the back to get a long view of the inside of one of the buildings!

Pilkington Glass Factory On Approach… Not the most appealing of bridges

Pilkington Glass Factory On Approach… Not the most appealing of bridges

Pilkington Glass Factory - Hoist

Pilkington Glass Factory – Hoist

Pilkington Glass Factory - Cart #71

Pilkington Glass Factory – Cart #71

Pilkington Glass Factory - Cart #35

Pilkington Glass Factory – Cart #35

Pilkington Glass Factory - No Leaning!

Pilkington Glass Factory – No Leaning!

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Grass Factory... Haha get it?

Pilkington Grass Factory… Haha get it?

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory- Castrol Motor Oil Jug

Pilkington Glass Factory – Castrol Motor Oil Jug

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory - Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory – Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory - Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory – Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory - Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory – Loved the light!

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory - Hand Prints

Pilkington Glass Factory – Hand Prints

Pilkington Glass Factory - Hand Prints

Pilkington Glass Factory – Hand Prints

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory

Pilkington Glass Factory On Approach… Not the most appealing of bridges

Pilkington Glass Factory On Approach… Not the most appealing of bridges

Don’t forget to check out the revisit report: Pilkington Glass November 2013

Finally a little video I found on the internet of the site up and running on its last day of production. Full credit to the author of the video:

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 🙂

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David says:

Did you visit the workshops in the green building at the back, I was wondering if the lathes and fabrication tables where still in place? oh and my old green tool cupboard 🙂 next to the dartboard?

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

I didn’t unfortunately mate and its now blocked off with railway sleepers… :/

alex brown says:

i did and yes they are still there and i have seen the green tool cupboard here is a video i made there r a few from in the part with the lathes in it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JrBSmVww44

and it looks blocked off but u can still get in btw.

David says:

Thank you Alex nice video

David says:

I started work there in 1964 as an apprentice boilermaker that is no9 grinding and polishing plant it was much larger back then with a sprawl of buildings and chimney stacks, I left in 1976 to work abroad in the Zambian copper mines but now retired, it was great to see inside where I worked for 13 years

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

Hi David, Thanks for the comment, its always nice to get some insight from past workers at the places I shoot! I enjoyed watching the video from when the plant was open! I think one of the chimney stacks still remains and the site is part used for railway sleeper storage at the moment. I went back again recently I’ll be posting another report soon… keep an eye out for it and I hope life is treating you well Zambia must have been a good adventure for 13 years! very jealous!

PM

alex brown says:

i have been there with a friend only yesterday and i climbed up that bridge ,which your right dose not feel safe, and we got to the side that pilks is on but didn’t see anyway of getting past that fence next to the prosesing plant we didn’t look very long but wondered if there’s still a way in.

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

There’s always a way in 😉

alex brown says:

how did u get inside here is there a hole in the fence or something?

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

Hi Again Alex, I don’t usually discuss exact contact details on the public posts, All i’d say is be careful if you plan on attempting it there is security on site and metal thieves in operation.

All the best Proj3ct