A few years ago I read a report by Speed about this place then a one by TLR some time later… I remember thinking I really should get myself down to Grimsby to have a wander, as it seemed exactly the type of place I like to visit.
However, as with a lot of these mental notes of “really must go there sometime†kind of plans, it always got put on the back burner until eventually forgotten.
I noticed it recently came up again in a couple of reports, which renewed my initial interest enough to finish work one evening and drive the couple of hours down for a closer look. To me, it seemed an awesome building close-up, and after a couple of PM’s to TLR (thanks! And by the way, I never saw any ‘little white men’ thankfully!) I was really pleased I had made the effort to go down.
The return visit saw a completely different entry to what I had previously planned, but suffice to say, we were nearly fair kicking ourselves on its simplicity… and why we hadn’t spotted it before.
Years on from all the initial explores, time and weather have certainly taken its toll on the place, (we went when it was pouring down, and it made me wonder how many more downpours and heavy winds can that roof really take?) but it still is fabulous place to visit.
Visited with Sed and Stranton, much thanks to you both.
History bit from English Heritage: -
The Great Grimsby Ice Company Factory was built in 1901. Its purpose was to supply ice to preserve fish on its journey from the deep sea fishing grounds to the nation’s plates.
It is essentially a brick shelter for the ice-making machines, but typically of the Victorians, some pride was taken in the brickwork to the Gorton Street entrance, and tiny details still survive such as the initials of the Great Grimsby Ice Factory cast into the end plates of supporting beams in the tanks house walls.
The factory first used steam to power the Pontiflex (and later Linde) Ammonia compressors which made the ice. As demand for ice increased, two more tank rooms were added between 1907 and 1910.
In 1930, a modernisation programme began. Metropolitan-Vickers of Manchester was commissioned to provide new electric generators. J. & E. Hall of Dartford, Kent won the contract to replace the refrigeration equipment.
The factory expanded once more in the early 1950’s, with a seventh tank room being built. A decline in demand and changes in ice production technology led to down-scaling in 1976. The Ice Factory closed in 1990. But for the efforts of local activists, it would have been demolished soon afterwards.
English Heritage awarded a Grade II* listing to the Ice Factory. Its significance lies in the fact that it is the last surviving example of early ice-making equipment, still in place in its original place of work.
Apologies for lack of externals… I did try, but was approached by a security person who drove up in a car who said it was not allowed apparently, to take a photo of a building…
but here’s one anyway.
However, as with a lot of these mental notes of “really must go there sometime†kind of plans, it always got put on the back burner until eventually forgotten.
I noticed it recently came up again in a couple of reports, which renewed my initial interest enough to finish work one evening and drive the couple of hours down for a closer look. To me, it seemed an awesome building close-up, and after a couple of PM’s to TLR (thanks! And by the way, I never saw any ‘little white men’ thankfully!) I was really pleased I had made the effort to go down.
The return visit saw a completely different entry to what I had previously planned, but suffice to say, we were nearly fair kicking ourselves on its simplicity… and why we hadn’t spotted it before.
Years on from all the initial explores, time and weather have certainly taken its toll on the place, (we went when it was pouring down, and it made me wonder how many more downpours and heavy winds can that roof really take?) but it still is fabulous place to visit.
Visited with Sed and Stranton, much thanks to you both.
History bit from English Heritage: -
The Great Grimsby Ice Company Factory was built in 1901. Its purpose was to supply ice to preserve fish on its journey from the deep sea fishing grounds to the nation’s plates.
It is essentially a brick shelter for the ice-making machines, but typically of the Victorians, some pride was taken in the brickwork to the Gorton Street entrance, and tiny details still survive such as the initials of the Great Grimsby Ice Factory cast into the end plates of supporting beams in the tanks house walls.
The factory first used steam to power the Pontiflex (and later Linde) Ammonia compressors which made the ice. As demand for ice increased, two more tank rooms were added between 1907 and 1910.
In 1930, a modernisation programme began. Metropolitan-Vickers of Manchester was commissioned to provide new electric generators. J. & E. Hall of Dartford, Kent won the contract to replace the refrigeration equipment.
The factory expanded once more in the early 1950’s, with a seventh tank room being built. A decline in demand and changes in ice production technology led to down-scaling in 1976. The Ice Factory closed in 1990. But for the efforts of local activists, it would have been demolished soon afterwards.
English Heritage awarded a Grade II* listing to the Ice Factory. Its significance lies in the fact that it is the last surviving example of early ice-making equipment, still in place in its original place of work.
Apologies for lack of externals… I did try, but was approached by a security person who drove up in a car who said it was not allowed apparently, to take a photo of a building…
but here’s one anyway.
Cat.
