Ipswich Sugar Factory revisited

Met up with a large group of local regulars for a revisit to the sugar factory.

There were two real personal goals for this trip – see new stuff and get to the top of the silos. I think I done that!

The Silos

These are high – roughly over 200 ladder-rungs high to be precise.

Halfway up, looking out of the window (and fighting through a pile of flies).

Inside the top. These photos came out quite by accident, hence the jaunty angles. I was using the flash on my small camera to illuminate some of Speed’s long exposure photos. I didn’t take my main camera up. Idiot.

The views of Ipswich and the factory were rather splendid.

Main Offices

We couldn’t get into these last time, but we found a way. A lot of the internal rooms were bolted up, but one or two were open.

Power Generator

A lot of the power generator has been demolished, including the really tall building which we climbed.

The “totally sealed up” room has been unsealed, nay, smashed up completely.

The impressively huge turbine remains.

Production area

Saw some new machines in here, accidentally, thanks to being on the wrong floor looking for a door.

Unofficially dubbed the “Slicey Dicey machine™”, this machine is used to chop raw beet into small managable chunks dry sugar.

Warehouses

Inside was an old Sierra, either being done up or smashed up.

Buildings

A final look at some of the other buildings on site.