Urban Explore: Phoenix Brickworks

It was a bit gloomy today weatherwise but still quite mild as we set off to explore a local brickworks in my hometown. Phoenix Brickworks, to be exact.

We'd driven past it last year but had the chance to explore it today.

The brickworks were built by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company dating back to 1786, on the site of the former Campbell Colliery, and therefore named Campbell Brickworks.

It began operations in the 1930s providing the Staveley Coal and Iron Company with pressed engineering bricks.

In 1993, the Pheonix Brickworks successfully took over the site.

As usual, the 2008 recession caused a lack of demand, and the last nail in the coffin was the loss of the landfill gas supply.

The works finally closed its doors in 2012. Source

Parking was easy. My first impression was how big the site was. It had the added bonus of just being able to walk in with no questions asked.

I couldn't believe how much machinery and bricks had been left there. It's a shame they couldn't have been recycled

Pareidolia: the ability to see shapes, people, animals, or other figures in objects, that aren't really there. Source

I could see an outline of a pig and then I couldn't unsee it.

I was hoping the Millennium Falcon out of Star Wars was hiding under the cover, but alas no.

A blast from the past - clocking in cards. My first few jobs had an electric clocking in system. If we were late we used to change the figure nine to an eight so we didn't lose any wages. Those were the days!

Of course, everything inside was trashed. I did think the cooker was in better condition than mine to be fair ....

Photography wise, it turned out to be one of my favourite explores, and amusingly, the local security firm had also left their gear behind, but they had wheelclamped it. You can't be too careful these days!