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Report - - Klinger Factory, Sidcup (May 2014) | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Klinger Factory, Sidcup (May 2014)

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upright_ninja

Picture of Stealth
28DL Full Member
I saw a report about this place recently and decided to put it on the list. Then a friend of mine expressed an interest in urban exploring and I thought what better way to help him start his journey, than to head over here. We parked a bit out of the way (early doors I hasten to add) and scouted for a way in. This was easy enough without any effort at all... even this middle aged loser managed to squeeze through the gap left behind by previous explorers! The way out, however, was a different story...!

Now, squeezing over 18 stone of bulk through a gap in a fence was challenging to say the least... gone are the days of cat-like prowess where I could negotiate a gap without touching the sides, so I was preparing myself for a bit of a workout but, on this occasion I surprised myself and I was inside. Unbeknownst to me, these fences are chamfered on the way in... on the way out however, I now have a rather apt name for these devices... "The Fat-Guy Trap"... there is no chamfer on the return journey much to my dismay, and I felt like an overweight vole trying to escape the clutches of a bottle, carelessly left by a picnicker! Eventually I broke free... minus my dignity but nonetheless, a huge source of entertainment for my new urbex buddy (member: greenthum).

It was a great morning. Plenty to see and some great photogenic stuff. We also bumped into two more explorers, bamboo backbone and her friend... and I'm just glad they weren't around to witness me attempting to squeeze my size 18 arse through a size 6 gap!

Now for some history:

Completed in 1937 to the designs of Wallis Gilbert and partners for Richard Klinger Ltd, founded in Austria in 1893, manufacturers of gaskets for engines and hydraulic pipelines and also water level gauges, valves and cocks.
Klinger Co. have had some great global success which began in the mid 1880's when the founder, Richard Klinger, was a spritely 25 years old. They were responsible for a number of engineering breakthroughs for inventing equipment and in 1891 Richard patented 'Privilegium' reflex level gauges. I assume that this was a pioneering move back then and lead the way to advances in engineering. The building has been derelict for many years now and a planning application for an IKEA store has been withdrawn so it currently sits in limbo with palisade fencing around the perimeter. The majority of the building is in a serious state of decay and hasn't been helped by 2 fires from earlier in the year.

Here are a few of the pics from our trip... I might even throw a few colour ones in, much against my protestations.

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The place is pretty trashed and plastered in graff (some of it worth capturing, but some of it's just a mess). Still, a very interesting place to visit and we spent an entire morning there.

Thanks for looking... keep safe y'all...!

u>.<n
 
Last edited:

zombizza

Sore Knee
Regular User
Very nice.
I really liked this place. I like your compositions.
Some might not like your processing or gas mask on here, but I do.
Don't be so hard on yourself either!
 

Coxieboy

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I really like this report, some people don't like HDR, I think this really suits this site. Its really captured the flavour of the site. Nice one.
 

Coxieboy

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Oh.... and I never noticed your water mark until half way through, that's the way it should be.
 

upright_ninja

Picture of Stealth
28DL Full Member
Very nice.
I really liked this place. I like your compositions.
Some might not like your processing or gas mask on here, but I do.
Don't be so hard on yourself either!

Thanks dude! Most of the processing is only the initial desaturation and a tweak with the shadows/highlight/contrast sliders in Camera RAW and then a full assault with the clarity control. Makes them look quite sharp, dark and moody.
 

upright_ninja

Picture of Stealth
28DL Full Member
I really like this report, some people don't like HDR, I think this really suits this site. Its really captured the flavour of the site. Nice one.

Thanks for the feedback... really appreciate it!

I think there are only two images in this set where I used a touch of HDR... the selfie in the gasmask and the one with the safe... If the others have a HDR feel to them, it's purely through adjustments in Camera RAW before finishing them in Photoshop.

Thanks

u>.<n
 

OverArch

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice report chap - good compositions from what must be a pretty empty site nowadays!
 

upright_ninja

Picture of Stealth
28DL Full Member
Thanks, mate. It was empty... trashed and full of graff. Nonetheless, an interesting jaunt for an otherwise unfulfilled Saturday morning. Cheers for the feedback!

u>.<n
 

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