In today’s Urbandoned video, we explore the massive Tetrosyl Works located in Bury,
that relocated several years ago leaving the old factory behind.
Deterioration and demolition is taking place but there are still many interesting features
to find as we wander through the empty grounds.
Join us on a classic industrial explore as we discover what is left at the complex.
We recently reached 20,000 subscribers on YouTube and we would like to say a huge thank
you to everyone that has supported our work so far. Similarly to when we hit 10,000 subs,
we are doing another giveaway on this video. Comment 20,000 to be in with a chance of winning
some exclusive prints of our photographs. 3 winners will be chosen in our next video.
Good luck!
Late in the day, we were skulking around the large lake that opposes the factory, looking
for a way inside. We had already seen workers at the front demolishing some small outbuildings
so we knew we weren’t alone in the property.
Tetrosyl is the biggest manufacturer and supplier of car care produce in Europe, as well as
being the UK’s largest independent oil blender. Despite being international today, the firm
began in Rochdale and Bury and has since expanded.
The back of the works was very quiet, with minimal overgrowth on the roads in between
buildings. We could hear the sounds of construction passing through the vacant structures, like
noises of the past when the factory was brimming with life.
Within no time we found a simple entry to one of the older sections of the facility.
With the more dated architecture, it was clear that this was probably one of the first buildings
created and had been abandoned longer than all the rest.
Caution signs were strung up indicating that even when the rest of the site was in use,
workers were not permitted to enter these parts due to the crumbling floors suffering
from dry rot.
From here, we progressed into the main building, which would’ve contained most of the manufacturing
equipment.
In some of these cinematics, you can hear the demolition occurring in the background,
which is also why we were being fairly quiet as we explored.
Machinery wise, this hall was one of the best we came across. We have reason to believe
this was more focused on the oil blending with the rows of tanks and piping. With the
aroma coming from the room, it seemed that some of the produce had spilled through the
decay of its canisters.
80 staff moved from Bury to Rochdale as the Tetrosyl plant closed around 2014. The reason
for the relocation was to improve the headquarters, as the company wanted to sell this site and
use the funds for the new building.
As it seems, the plan worked perfectly as this factory already had planning permission
before it had fully closed for residential development in the area.
The only failure of the move is that the new factory will lose the character and old design
that this one boasted.
We aren’t too sure what these machines were. They seemed to have a roll of stickers on
them so perhaps this would have been towards the final stages of packaging before exporting
the completed products.
Remember if you have any information on a building we cover, we welcome all comments
below as we like to learn more about the places we visit.
This region of the factory became less machinery and more storage. It also featured the canteen
for the workers, laboratories and first aid.
We had covered the main points of the largest building, but there was still much more to
see.
As we were moving through the complex, we were getting closer and closer to the demolition
work, so we were becoming more wary, especially when outside and on the roads with no cover.
With the coast clear, we crossed over and headed for the technical centre. This tall
building would’ve had offices and various board rooms inside, for investors that would
visit the site.
It seemed we were a bit too late as asbestos removal was going on on each floor except
for the top one.
Many Tetrosyl products were on show, as if the company wanted to impress whoever entered
these spaces.
The final feature we were yet to see was more laboratories, but unlike the others we had
found which held little value inside, these
were the total opposite.
This tiny space was awesome to see, because of the equipment left behind. Every cupboard
was full of capsules and jars, each made by Tetrosyl. They were probably testing new mixtures
for oil or other liquids that can help cars.
It’s strange how this was all neglected whilst most of the property was stripped.
Clearly the toxicity was prominent in the lab so we didn’t spend too much time in
here, and left just as it was getting dark.
The fate of the works has already been decided and in the upcoming months after we explored
the site, demolition and stripping progressed.
In some ways, it’s sad to see a historic facility that’s already been forgotten but
in other ways it’s just a new chapter for the company, as they part ways in the hopes
of improving their local work for good.
Be sure to leave a like on the video if you enjoyed it and remember to subscribe!
Here are some of our photographs taken at the factory. If you like the look of them,
feel free to check out our Instagram page below where we post images from our explores
months before they are seen on YouTube.
Thanks for watching! Remember to comment 20,000 to enter the giveaway. We are going on our
longest exploring trip to date next week so follow us on Instagram to see what we get
up to on our stories. See you next time!