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View Full Version : Semtex Factory Boiler House, Bryn Mawr - Mar 09



sinnerman
03-03-2009, 12:22 AM
The Semtex factory at Bryn Mawr was hailed as a masterpeice of the modern age because of it's extraordinary domed structure. The post war brainchild of Lord Forrester who wanted to bring large scale modern industry to the south Wales Valleys, which had been ravaged by the effects of the Depression on the coal industry during the the 1930's. The resulting factory which produced rubber products for Semtex Ltd a division of Dunlop was erected between 1947 and 1953, it was considered to be the most inventive industrial building of its time, with its nine self supporting domes over the production area. It was praised as one of the most architecturaly significant modern buildings by architects such as from Frank Lloyd Wright to Paul Zara, and Sir Terence Conran and influenced the design of the Sydney opera house it was the first post 1945 building to be granted a listed building status.

The factory was perhaps too inovative for its time and was never a commercial success closing in 1982 while the coal industry it was designed to supplement was in its own death throes. Alongside the factory building was the equally modern boiler house which powered the site. Featuring a two floor power plant within a high peeked arch structure reminisant of a viking long house. Coal wagons would enter the building on the first floor level before emptying their cargo into hoopers to feed the boilers below. the building designed by Sir Ove Arup one of the countries leading structural engineers was also concidered significant enough to be granted a listing of its own but today is derelict and empty, although development plans for the site included an obligation to convert the boiler house into a community theater the plans have come to nothing.

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh01.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh02.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh03.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh04.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh05.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh06.jpg

http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh07.jpg

As for the factory itself, neither its significance or listing could save it and its site is now just another prefab retail park.
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/semtex/sbh08.jpg

KingElvis
03-03-2009, 09:38 AM
What a place, fantastic stuff.

This building would draw me in like a moth to a lightbulb if I saw it from the road somewhere.

boxfrenzy
03-03-2009, 09:41 AM
That's really good mate, looks really intresting. Good pictures too. I love the hidden places that thousands of shoppers much miss every day.

BB
03-03-2009, 12:08 PM
That is really cool. Thanks for sharing :thumb

Fluxy
03-03-2009, 02:16 PM
True decay, very morbid looking. Interesting design and shapes on this building. I like it!