This was my fourth visit here over the last five years. To be honest I was not really bothered about going. But my other mate who could not make the last two visits really wanted to see the place. So being the good friend I am I said I would show him around. I actually enjoyed it as I got in a few bits I had not seen before and took lots of shots on the macro lens. We spent a good four hours here and it was relaxed. Sadly the kids have started getting in and started to do what kids do. But most of it is confined to the big main workshop. The pipes and kiln areas are pretty much what they were like before. The first visit I still remember security being on the site full time and driving about. I got caught because a load of seagulls flew up and alerted him someone was about. It’s amazing how things can change, but luckily it’s still in very good condition for the most part and the pipes are still worth seeing. Definitely worth a look if you have not been.
Jeld Wen in Lowestoft was formerly owned by Boulton and Paul which was a big local company in my home city. They opened the site in 1962 by the river and employed about 400 people in the eighties. In 1999 an American company called Jeld Wen Inc bought up Boulton and Paul and John Carr and was rebranded as Jeld Wen UK Ltd. Jeld Wen started off in Oregon as a millwork plant with a handful of employees. It grew into a massive company with 150 divisions and twenty thousand employees across the world. The yard here basically milled and processed wood, this was then taken to other factories and staircases and windows were built. In 2009 a recession hit the country and hit the building trade hard. It was decided to close the Lowestoft branch, and it closed in 2010 with the loss off nearly 200 jobs. The massive 36 acre site has sat derelict since.
Starting off with the main entrance, a pair of wooden telephone booths next to the main offices and workshops.
First off is a block that was all sealed before. Consisting of a conference room, medical room and welfare. And a kitchen and canteen. The canteen was fairly smashed up, and kitchen in pitch black.
There are several small substations dotted about. This is the largest. It had several nice switchgear boards inside.
On to the pipe system which is basically a large dust extraction system. This would feed the boilers as well.
A couple of small control panels.
inside the boiler house. This houses two more modern style boilers. This would burn some of the waste from the factory.
the panel here was the same make as the switchgear In the substation.
Heading next to the pipes is another block I had not seen before. Not sure what ithis was used for. It had a small workshop to the side.
Continued..
Jeld Wen in Lowestoft was formerly owned by Boulton and Paul which was a big local company in my home city. They opened the site in 1962 by the river and employed about 400 people in the eighties. In 1999 an American company called Jeld Wen Inc bought up Boulton and Paul and John Carr and was rebranded as Jeld Wen UK Ltd. Jeld Wen started off in Oregon as a millwork plant with a handful of employees. It grew into a massive company with 150 divisions and twenty thousand employees across the world. The yard here basically milled and processed wood, this was then taken to other factories and staircases and windows were built. In 2009 a recession hit the country and hit the building trade hard. It was decided to close the Lowestoft branch, and it closed in 2010 with the loss off nearly 200 jobs. The massive 36 acre site has sat derelict since.
Starting off with the main entrance, a pair of wooden telephone booths next to the main offices and workshops.
First off is a block that was all sealed before. Consisting of a conference room, medical room and welfare. And a kitchen and canteen. The canteen was fairly smashed up, and kitchen in pitch black.
There are several small substations dotted about. This is the largest. It had several nice switchgear boards inside.
On to the pipe system which is basically a large dust extraction system. This would feed the boilers as well.
A couple of small control panels.
inside the boiler house. This houses two more modern style boilers. This would burn some of the waste from the factory.
the panel here was the same make as the switchgear In the substation.
Heading next to the pipes is another block I had not seen before. Not sure what ithis was used for. It had a small workshop to the side.
Continued..
