Intro
Enroute to QEII the other day we drove past the shredded wheat factory ad my jaw dropped. Looks incredible and as we drove past we also drove past this, which drew my attention even more. Although seemly just another section of the Shredded Wheat factory (Technically true but anyway it was in fact built for Crown Macaroni Co. and originally intended to have the 3/4 floors throughout the whole factory, but instead, it was built with one floor throughout, and up to 3/4 floors on the corners, this, personally, looks absolutely awesome and ended up returning just to have a wander around this. The 40's/50's architecture mixed with the complete disorganization of building only parts of it up to the intended height makes it look so cool. I love industry like this and despite it being a little less full of original features, this is exactly my kind of industry without a doubt.
Not even sure if it's been done before, good chance as it sits so close to Shredded Wheat that anyone visiting that might've popped in here as well? Anyway, I enjoyed it!
Enjoy this, maybe, might just be me getting a bit too excited about it...
History
Crown Macaroni Company
Having outgrown their old factory, Crown Macaroni are building a new modern factory, with a frontage of 630 ft. and a completion area of 150,000 sq. ft. The site is approximately four and a half acres in size and already the building programme, at 80,000 sq. ft., has reached the stage at which it can be continued without affecting production.
The new factory is high and airy, and the working and hygienic conditions are excellent. The length of the new biscuit department, already operating, is 430 feet; this allows for the erection of large-scale baking plant, and permits an unbroken flow line of production which gives the maximum capacity so essential for today's competitive business situation.
The old Macaroni Department will shortly be transferred into that part of the new building where the company has installed a few macaroni presses and additional up-to-date long Spaghetti dryers in order to start production in the new factory before production in the old factory is discontinued.
At completion the Macaroni factory will be the largest and, with the new installations, the most up-to-date of its kind in Great Britain, and quite able to justify the company's aim of producing better and cheaper goods through improved working conditions and increased production.
The new factory for the Crown Macaroni Company and Cromac Biscuits Co., Ltd. This architect's drawing shows the factory as it will be when completed.
This never was fully completed, and temporary cladding was fitted to the corners at the different height.
Later in it's life the building was used as an annex and storage for Shredded Wheat and closed when the main Factory did in 2008.
It was used as storage on the lower floors along side distribution with it's court yard and also on the upper floors administration, testing as it had laboratories and also for other official business.
Thank you to http://cashewnut.me.uk/WGCbooks/web-WGC-books-1959-1.php and a few random snippets from google etc., took me a while to find but was a definitely worth it!
Pictures
I found it very photogenic inside but that's only because I have a thing for this kind of industrial architecture
Distribution
Moving up, Offices, Packing, Testing and Laboratories
Packing
Laboratories
Distribution and storage from the southern corner
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You never see windows like this intact any more
Seemly a boring picture to most, but look at the walls D:
So nice
Admin
These corner rooms!
Storage
Enroute to QEII the other day we drove past the shredded wheat factory ad my jaw dropped. Looks incredible and as we drove past we also drove past this, which drew my attention even more. Although seemly just another section of the Shredded Wheat factory (Technically true but anyway it was in fact built for Crown Macaroni Co. and originally intended to have the 3/4 floors throughout the whole factory, but instead, it was built with one floor throughout, and up to 3/4 floors on the corners, this, personally, looks absolutely awesome and ended up returning just to have a wander around this. The 40's/50's architecture mixed with the complete disorganization of building only parts of it up to the intended height makes it look so cool. I love industry like this and despite it being a little less full of original features, this is exactly my kind of industry without a doubt.
Not even sure if it's been done before, good chance as it sits so close to Shredded Wheat that anyone visiting that might've popped in here as well? Anyway, I enjoyed it!
Enjoy this, maybe, might just be me getting a bit too excited about it...
History
Crown Macaroni Company
Having outgrown their old factory, Crown Macaroni are building a new modern factory, with a frontage of 630 ft. and a completion area of 150,000 sq. ft. The site is approximately four and a half acres in size and already the building programme, at 80,000 sq. ft., has reached the stage at which it can be continued without affecting production.
The new factory is high and airy, and the working and hygienic conditions are excellent. The length of the new biscuit department, already operating, is 430 feet; this allows for the erection of large-scale baking plant, and permits an unbroken flow line of production which gives the maximum capacity so essential for today's competitive business situation.
The old Macaroni Department will shortly be transferred into that part of the new building where the company has installed a few macaroni presses and additional up-to-date long Spaghetti dryers in order to start production in the new factory before production in the old factory is discontinued.
At completion the Macaroni factory will be the largest and, with the new installations, the most up-to-date of its kind in Great Britain, and quite able to justify the company's aim of producing better and cheaper goods through improved working conditions and increased production.
The new factory for the Crown Macaroni Company and Cromac Biscuits Co., Ltd. This architect's drawing shows the factory as it will be when completed.
This never was fully completed, and temporary cladding was fitted to the corners at the different height.
Later in it's life the building was used as an annex and storage for Shredded Wheat and closed when the main Factory did in 2008.
It was used as storage on the lower floors along side distribution with it's court yard and also on the upper floors administration, testing as it had laboratories and also for other official business.
Thank you to http://cashewnut.me.uk/WGCbooks/web-WGC-books-1959-1.php and a few random snippets from google etc., took me a while to find but was a definitely worth it!
Pictures
I found it very photogenic inside but that's only because I have a thing for this kind of industrial architecture
Distribution
Moving up, Offices, Packing, Testing and Laboratories
Packing
Laboratories
Distribution and storage from the southern corner
You never see windows like this intact any more
Seemly a boring picture to most, but look at the walls D:
So nice
Admin
These corner rooms!
Storage