Stewartby Brickworks - some new angles by urbexwithAT on November 27 2021 20:48 hr CE(S)TShortlink to this report: [ https://urbx.be/upfn ]
Finding out the location
very easy
Access
easy
Safety
unsafe
Risk of being seen
high
General condition of the place
bad
Traces of vandalism
many
Good place for taking pictures?
good
Did you see other people?
few
Visit date June 10 2020 at 8 hr Visit duration 2 hours
This gentle giant once had the largest brick-producing capacity and output of any factory in Europe. Since October 2021 demolition has been in progress, with the towers already demolished and the buildings likely to be destroyed soon too.
Text and photos are by urbexwithAT. Click here to see urbexwithAT's profile and other reports.
The History of Stewartby brickworks by Urbex_explorer on August 17 2020 09:17 hr CE(S)TShortlink to this report: [ https://urbx.be/xrdt ]
Finding out the location
easy
Access
very easy
Safety
safe
Risk of being seen
low
General condition of the place
good
Traces of vandalism
few
Good place for taking pictures?
very good
Did you see other people?
few
Visit date July 12 2020 at 10 hr Visit duration 2 hours
I visiting this place a couple months ago after being told about it by someone I done some research and found out the location with was very easy as it’s a well known place, so I decided to take a drive down there and explore this for myself . After arriving I had a walk around to look for a way in and after 5 -10mins I had found easy access ( nothing was broken , vandalised or forced to get in ) after getting in I was shocked at how big this place really was in person and the fact that there was only minimum vandalism on such a big place the rest being generally age related stuff , there was no security but it is on a main road with minimum cars driving past you can walk around the place without being spotted told to leave or being chased by security, there are a couple of cameras at the railway track but that points to the track only! The pictures you can take while at brickworks are unreal and you have to see it for yourself in person here’s abit of history about the place it’s self:)
STEWARTBY BRICKWORKS
The structures are a symbol of the brickwork industry in Bedfordshire and date back to the 1930s. Four of the 32 original chimneys remain on the site, standing up to 70m (230ft) tall.
At its peak in 1936, Stewartby Brickworks produced 500 million bricks a year. The site closed in 2008 as it could not achieve emission standards.
Hanson said "complete demolition" of the chimneys was necessary due to the "safety hazards related to the potential collapse" of the structures.
Network Rail has also raised concerns about the chimneys' proximity to the railway line.
It has introduced a measure where the line is closed when wind speeds of 50mph and above are anticipated, due to the chimneys failing tests set by the Eurocode for resisting wind loads.
However, Historic England opposed the idea, and Stewartby Parish Council believed they should be "protected for the heritage of the whole of Bedfordshire".
In a statement, Bedford Borough Council said the planning committee "resolved to grant consent subject to a legal agreement to provide a new single chimney on the site with 'Stewartby' written down it to replicate the existing chimney, alongside a heritage interpretation scheme to ensure the history of this site is not lost.
"There are no planning applications for housing on this site at this time."
Text and photos are by Urbex_explorer. Click here to see Urbex_explorer's profile and other reports.