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Report - - ICI Imagedata, Brantham May 2019 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - ICI Imagedata, Brantham May 2019

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mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
So like me, I assume you thought that the site that once housed the mighty and ruined British Xylonite/Wardle Storeys factory in Brantham was now devoid of anything of interest, right? Well, like me, you thought wrong. Whilst the BX site is long gone, there are parts of the adjacent still active works which are derelict and abandoned, and have been for years. Parts of them were done by @Speed a number of years back however since his post it would appear various bits have been flattened or incorporated into the working buildings, however this delicious large structure is standing empty and ready for exploring.

There is a lot of confusing history around the BX site, it had so many different names over the years and many of those were used at the same time it would appear. This area was once a joint venture between BX and Ilford, running under the name Bexford producing thermal films. It was taken over by ICI at some point in the 1960s and remained operational as ICI Imagedata before being taken over by ITW Imagedata in 2010, who still operate out of part of the site up to the present. I'm not entirely sure when this area closed, however.

This place was a great surprise to me, I knew it had some decent things to see in it but ended up being far more than I expected. The main part of the building is taken up by a trio of massive, three-level machines which produce, at the end, a large spool of clear film. Well there were three, one of them has been completely ripped out leaving just a gaping void but the other two are still intact, and both still have the film in the machine as if it was simply turned off one day and that was it. Situated above the machines are the plant rooms and other associated things, including a number of refrigeration compressors.

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Thanks for looking :)
 

Speed

Got Epic Slow?
Regular User
Is the rest of Brantham still a wasteland? Not been down for a few years!

Theres some other reports from this building on here under the British Xylonite name (which is a bit confusing) it was quite the UE attraction a few years ago. The bit i originally explored was demolished around 2013 unfortunately. It was the research labs and had smaller versions of the machines in here. The place was always a bit overshadowed by BX itself really but i still had a few good explores there dodging the guys from the live buildings!
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Is the rest of Brantham still a wasteland? Not been down for a few years!

Theres some other reports from this building on here under the British Xylonite name (which is a bit confusing) it was quite the UE attraction a few years ago. The bit i originally explored was demolished around 2013 unfortunately. It was the research labs and had smaller versions of the machines in here. The place was always a bit overshadowed by BX itself really but i still had a few good explores there dodging the guys from the live buildings!

There's a new road constructed through the middle of where the BX buildings were, the old BX office block is wrapped in scaffolding and they look ready to start building things there now. There are other empty bits scattered around but all seem to be within the active stuff.
 

The Lone Shadow

Industrial Fanatic!
28DL Full Member
Wow - We explored here at least 5 years ago. Really enjoyed it aswell. Aren't/weren't they making umbrellas on the floor with all that clear film. Some of it was still in use back in the day. Is it all totally derelict now?
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Wow - We explored here at least 5 years ago. Really enjoyed it aswell. Aren't/weren't they making umbrellas on the floor with all that clear film. Some of it was still in use back in the day. Is it all totally derelict now?

The company manufactured films for use in ID cards and other security type things.

Most of whats left is still active there are just a couple of derelict buildings scattered about.
 

txmb23

28DL Member
28DL Member
Out of interest, what building is derelict since the last time I went, I explored the abandoned office building (Chalkwell House) but didn't know which part of the ITW ImageData plant was active.

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The Witness

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
visited this place sunday just gone, only just seen your report , i will also write up a report soon. your pictures are great , i had no idea what this place used to be so thanks for the info too!
 

mookster

grumpy sod
Regular User
Out of interest, what building is derelict since the last time I went, I explored the abandoned office building (Chalkwell House) but didn't know which part of the ITW ImageData plant was active.

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It's right at the back of the site, and looks obviously derelict if you use your noggin.
 

wf36

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Well the rest of the area around Chalkwell House (white building on the left) has changed massively since I last went down there!

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Untitled by will_finch, on Flickr
 

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