As it has been a year since the last report was posted on this place I thought it would be good to post a new one to show how much it's changed (Spoiler alert: it hasn't really). This is the second time I have explored this place in the last month and although pretty much just an empty shell now, still seems to get more vandalised every visit.
Free up those minds as it's history time:
Golden Valley Mill developed as a brass works in the early 18th Century with the involvement of William Champion. There is little, if any, evidence of the brass works remaining on site, although the ponds to the north east may date at least in part from that period. The original brass and paper mill buildings appear to have been destroyed by fires in the 19th Century. Paper production continued until the 1960s. The scale of the former manufacturing uses is surprising. Records show that in 1881 the mill employed some 400 people, manufacturing 30-35 tons of writing, envelope and government paper per week. By 1895 employee numbers had risen to around 450 operating 24 hours per day, 6 days per week. From 1963 the site was in use for the manufacture of wood fibre moulded components for the automotive sector. This included pulping on site of over 20 tons of logs every 24 hours for use in Fords, Saabs Jaguars, and Rovers. The economic impact of jobs on the village of Bitton and its ability to support a range of services was significant. Traffic generation in the form of lorry and car movements was also significant in the local context. The redbrick ‘Dacora’ office block fronting Bath Road and the adjacent industrial buildings fronting Mill Lane were not part of the original paper mill but were part of the Phoenix Foundry. The mill and foundry sites were joined and continued in use until November 2006. The site has remained vacant and in a deteriorating condition. It comprises approximately 16,700 sq m of unused floorspace.
Now on to the pics:
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!
Lil'Legs
Free up those minds as it's history time:
Golden Valley Mill developed as a brass works in the early 18th Century with the involvement of William Champion. There is little, if any, evidence of the brass works remaining on site, although the ponds to the north east may date at least in part from that period. The original brass and paper mill buildings appear to have been destroyed by fires in the 19th Century. Paper production continued until the 1960s. The scale of the former manufacturing uses is surprising. Records show that in 1881 the mill employed some 400 people, manufacturing 30-35 tons of writing, envelope and government paper per week. By 1895 employee numbers had risen to around 450 operating 24 hours per day, 6 days per week. From 1963 the site was in use for the manufacture of wood fibre moulded components for the automotive sector. This included pulping on site of over 20 tons of logs every 24 hours for use in Fords, Saabs Jaguars, and Rovers. The economic impact of jobs on the village of Bitton and its ability to support a range of services was significant. Traffic generation in the form of lorry and car movements was also significant in the local context. The redbrick ‘Dacora’ office block fronting Bath Road and the adjacent industrial buildings fronting Mill Lane were not part of the original paper mill but were part of the Phoenix Foundry. The mill and foundry sites were joined and continued in use until November 2006. The site has remained vacant and in a deteriorating condition. It comprises approximately 16,700 sq m of unused floorspace.
Now on to the pics:
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!
Lil'Legs
