Edison Swan Cable Works, Lower Lydbrook, South Gloucestershire
The factory started life when Harold J Smith purchased some land at Stowfield, near Lower Lydbrook, and built the Lydbrook Cable Works. At first the site only employed 40 workers, however the First World War provided many contracts and the site rapidly expanded, employing a workforce of 650. When the Official Receiver was introduced, contracts declined and the site was sold in 1925 to Edison Swan Cables.
Edison Swan had access to greater resources and the site quickly expanded further, making it the sprawling mass of different-aged buildings visible today. The Second World War helped the site to fuel this growth - the site owned one of only four machines making lead alloy tube required for "Petroleum Lines Under the Ocean" (PLUTO) which allowed fuel to be delivered to the Allied invasion force in Europe. At it's peak it employed 1,100 people.
In 1966 the factory was bought by Reed Paper, and it took on the new name of "Reed Corrugated Cables". It was then purchased by a Swedish packaging firm called SCA, and the site was used as one of several SCA packaging plants around the UK. Production ceased in 1994, and the site has slowly deteriorated since.
Edison Swan had access to greater resources and the site quickly expanded further, making it the sprawling mass of different-aged buildings visible today. The Second World War helped the site to fuel this growth - the site owned one of only four machines making lead alloy tube required for "Petroleum Lines Under the Ocean" (PLUTO) which allowed fuel to be delivered to the Allied invasion force in Europe. At it's peak it employed 1,100 people.
In 1966 the factory was bought by Reed Paper, and it took on the new name of "Reed Corrugated Cables". It was then purchased by a Swedish packaging firm called SCA, and the site was used as one of several SCA packaging plants around the UK. Production ceased in 1994, and the site has slowly deteriorated since.
After not exploring anything other than high stuff for a while, it felt so good to smell that damp smell that is a DERP. After plans to do something else fell through, tumbles suggested we go and have look at the old cable works in Lydbrook, which he's done and fancied a revisit to. It's been on the cards for a while, but we hadn't actually got around to it as of yet.
So after a cheeky Maccy Ds and a pleasant drive through some of the Forest of Dean, we got down to it. Our trip didn't go entirely to plan, but we did get to meet some very friendly Gloucestershire Police officers, who knew we meant no harm and sent us on our way. There is a situation that needs to be addressed on this site, with regards to security and their use of our canine friends. Due to the whole getting spotted incident, I didn't actually take any externals… Looking back I am rather gutted about this, so have had to steal one for now… DOH. |