I’ll Start by saying if you would like to see some amazingly bad photo’s (when I first got my camera) and Kelly Brook’s cannons. Check my report out from 2008 when I first visited Fletcher’s back when you could browse the forums on the office computers. Or just read through their emails like Jay is in the pic LOL
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/robert-fletcher-paper-mill-oldham-12-05-08.t31631
So back to 2017.
Whilst in Maenofferen having a few mine beers @EOA mentioned that he really fancied Fletchers and had tried a few times but that security was still very much active. I’d always fancied nipping back here, so after a few messages here and there I’d got some info and it was back to Fletcher’s to continue my weekend of local spots.
Visited with @EOA and my non member mate we bumped into a few local dog walkers on our way in. Not ideal, seeing as they love to dob you in before you step foot near the place. However we carried on and rightfully so. We managed to gain access pretty quickly and began to have a good wander about the place. We heard a few vehicles moving about here and there so we kept the noise down.
All in all a successful day and still a bloody good site to explore.
History
Pics
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/robert-fletcher-paper-mill-oldham-12-05-08.t31631
So back to 2017.
Whilst in Maenofferen having a few mine beers @EOA mentioned that he really fancied Fletchers and had tried a few times but that security was still very much active. I’d always fancied nipping back here, so after a few messages here and there I’d got some info and it was back to Fletcher’s to continue my weekend of local spots.
Visited with @EOA and my non member mate we bumped into a few local dog walkers on our way in. Not ideal, seeing as they love to dob you in before you step foot near the place. However we carried on and rightfully so. We managed to gain access pretty quickly and began to have a good wander about the place. We heard a few vehicles moving about here and there so we kept the noise down.
All in all a successful day and still a bloody good site to explore.
History
We all know that Fletcher’s closed overnight but here’s a bit more history robbed from @paulsxplore’s report.
The history of Fletchers as a business can be traced back to 1829 and a company called Ralph Crompton & Nephews Bleachers and Papermakers in Stoneclough. A young Robert Fletcher began working there in 1830 and was quickly promoted, becoming bleaching dept manager and eventually manager of the whole operation.
The last of the Cromptons, Roger, left Fletcher the principal trusteeship and the option of succeeding him in the company. On Crompton's death Fletcher did just this, building the business until his death in 1865 when it passed to his sons John and James Fletcher, who in turn passed it to their sons John Robert and James.
In 1897 the business was incorporated as a Ltd company, employing two hundred staff, eventually rising to around a thousand. The Stoneclough site had seven machines but produced a fraction of the eventual output of the three at Greenfield.
The Greenfield factory opened in 1921 on a site where milling in one form or another can be traced back to 1780, producing first wool then cotton.
Fletchers continued to be successful through to the late 1990's when increased pulp and energy costs combined with a financial downturn saw the business begin to struggle. In 1997 the turnover was around £17m with shareholders funds of £9m. By 1999 this had dropped to £8.2m and £4m respectively. To try to save the business the Stoneclough site was closed in 2000 with the loss of 120 jobs there but the production of 50 more at Greenfield.
This wasn't enough to save Fletchers though, in July 2001 several creditors applied for a winding up order resulting in the overnight closure of the factory.
The history of Fletchers as a business can be traced back to 1829 and a company called Ralph Crompton & Nephews Bleachers and Papermakers in Stoneclough. A young Robert Fletcher began working there in 1830 and was quickly promoted, becoming bleaching dept manager and eventually manager of the whole operation.
The last of the Cromptons, Roger, left Fletcher the principal trusteeship and the option of succeeding him in the company. On Crompton's death Fletcher did just this, building the business until his death in 1865 when it passed to his sons John and James Fletcher, who in turn passed it to their sons John Robert and James.
In 1897 the business was incorporated as a Ltd company, employing two hundred staff, eventually rising to around a thousand. The Stoneclough site had seven machines but produced a fraction of the eventual output of the three at Greenfield.
The Greenfield factory opened in 1921 on a site where milling in one form or another can be traced back to 1780, producing first wool then cotton.
Fletchers continued to be successful through to the late 1990's when increased pulp and energy costs combined with a financial downturn saw the business begin to struggle. In 1997 the turnover was around £17m with shareholders funds of £9m. By 1999 this had dropped to £8.2m and £4m respectively. To try to save the business the Stoneclough site was closed in 2000 with the loss of 120 jobs there but the production of 50 more at Greenfield.
This wasn't enough to save Fletchers though, in July 2001 several creditors applied for a winding up order resulting in the overnight closure of the factory.
Pics
Not too much has changed since my last visit. Other than some epic nature decay has set in, a few phosphor bronze bushes have been nicked and the forklifts have been moved. We didn’t check the offices id imagine they’re just ransacked like they usually are.
some reyt big rolling pins
this machine is a bit like a paper play dough machine
plenty of cool dials and switches are still kicking about
valves, we love a load of valves don’t we?
the labs reminded me of them mad scientist sweet making kits you got in the 90’s can’t remember what they were called but they were grim.
The most photographed empty bottle of Sodium Hydroxide in existence. A rare find!
Many white hats that I believe belong to the dwarves that @Paradox mentioned down some mine recently?
Some poor geezer left without his airmax
This is where nature has slowly started to take over.
Look at that. Beautiful.
My back hurts even thinking about sitting on these.
Tried a bit of symmetry…….clearly failed.
Found a couple of un exploded WW2 bombs.
C ya later roof, nice knowing ya.
Another cool bit of growth
Quality control office
Jungle is massive
This pipe was leaking some water at a right rate of knots!
www.proumbecks.com
Onto the old machines where some are partially stripped for their bushes etc.
Some weird guy in the background who has a bit of a thing for slate steps…….
and this is as far as we got before we had to leave.
some reyt big rolling pins
this machine is a bit like a paper play dough machine
plenty of cool dials and switches are still kicking about
valves, we love a load of valves don’t we?
the labs reminded me of them mad scientist sweet making kits you got in the 90’s can’t remember what they were called but they were grim.
The most photographed empty bottle of Sodium Hydroxide in existence. A rare find!
Many white hats that I believe belong to the dwarves that @Paradox mentioned down some mine recently?
Some poor geezer left without his airmax
This is where nature has slowly started to take over.
Look at that. Beautiful.
My back hurts even thinking about sitting on these.
Tried a bit of symmetry…….clearly failed.
Found a couple of un exploded WW2 bombs.
C ya later roof, nice knowing ya.
Another cool bit of growth
Quality control office
Jungle is massive
This pipe was leaking some water at a right rate of knots!
www.proumbecks.com
Onto the old machines where some are partially stripped for their bushes etc.
Some weird guy in the background who has a bit of a thing for slate steps…….
and this is as far as we got before we had to leave.
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