British Waterways Buildings, Colwick, Nottingham, Feb 2012

[DreamAwake]

A beautiful old depot at Trent Lane industrial estate facing straight onto the river Trent in Nottingham

'The Trent's concrete ghost

Trent Lane depot is a relic of Nottingham's ambitious attempt to connect with the trade of the North Sea.

During the 1930s Nottingham wanted to diversify its economy, extend its city boundary and become a major European city.

They would do this by creating an inland port.

Local historian Chris Matthews has been researching this period of history. He says:

"Nottingham still had a lot of slums and this was embarrassing for the city so any kudos the city could gain by building [a port] would improve the opinion of it."

The port's depot (Trent Lane) is made of reinforced concrete and has a total of nine floors which were used for loading timber, metal, chemicals and manufactured goods on to barges.
Hull and back

These products were then shipped to and from Hull (a distance of around 90 miles), where any international trade could then be transferred onto ships.

The 1937 Nottingham handbook states that during the previous year over 230,000 tonnes had been carried on the Trent.

However, by the 1980s Trent Lane depot's role was at an end.

This was caused gradually by the growth of the combustion engine and the silting up of the Trent at Stoke Bardolph.

The depot remains untouched and due to the recession it's avoided demolition to make way for luxury apartments.'

Ok these shots are of the first building.

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar1.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar2.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar3.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar5.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar4.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/sugar6.jpg

and these are of the second building

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/Waterways1.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/waterways2.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/waterways3.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/waterways4.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/waterways7-1.jpg

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t502/dreamawakenotts/waterways6.jpg

[MJS]

Although it's battered, I do like the look of this place. Nice one

[Nicola]

I like it too - nice write up.

[birdinanaviary]

Great history!
Nice report