I’ve been aware of this place for a while, as it’s literally 5 minutes from my house, but only became aware that it was empty last year, and then only the other week did I realise it was getting trashed, and thus explorable. Roosters recent report prompted me into action, as there aren’t too many explores in this neck of the woods. Plus how many explores are there that both start
and end in the letter X? The case was compelling.
History: Built as Pincock Spinning Mill in 1792 and closed in 1892. The factory was reopened as a weaving mill in 1896 to produce sateen’s, velveteen’s and Bedford cords, brocades and fancies. The mill closed in 1934 and reopened in 1940 producing checks, tablecloths and linings until it closed in 1954.
More recently, the site was owned by a company called Xelflex who made rubber mouldings for a number of different industries. They were acquired in 2003 by the PXL Group after they had been waiting for a major contract for the defence industry which did not come to fruition. In 2006 the site was closed with more than 40 staff losing their jobs.
In July this year, planning permission was applied for 81 apartments and 9 two storey cottages, which to me is overkill for a 5 acre rural site, on a rather tricky bend, that is a known accident blackspot.
To be honest, there isn't much to see, and it's not worth travelling to, but if you're passing, it may be worth 20 minutes of your time.
Working there must have been a barrel of laughs.....
Basement. Not much down here.
Main shop floor. Everything seemed to be partitioned off with breeze block walls for some reason.
'Caution Wet Floor'- this often happens when the pikies nick the lead off the floor.
Never taken a reflection shot inside a building before.
Finishing Department
I think this was a water tank on top of the offices. The mill engine was probably sited up here, no evidence of it now though.
Random dead foliage