A few weeks back I asked if I could go inside a set of buildings that are being demolished in Hull.
This is the second lot of buildings within the same industrial estate I have been allowed to go inside and photograph.
Many people may find this quite an odd thing to do but I find places like this very interesting and like to try and get some kind of visual record of them before they are lost for ever or redeveloped.
I can not tell you alot about this place other than it was used to mamufacture coatings, paints and solvents.
Inside one of the cupboards I found a inventory that was dated back to 1939 with the company name ‘Storry, Smithson & Company’ which when I punched it into google found company was mention on this web page.
I can not be sure of what happened next though the was trading by all accounts under a the name Ameron Coatings before being bought out in 2006 by an American company called PPG Protective Marine Coatings.
Needless to say many of the buildings on the site will be demolished and with the memories of thousands of people who have passed through the doors over many many years to work.
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Interesting – I am surprised that someone who worked there or had a relation who did, has not made a comment.
This is the place known as the Bankside Works – the ‘open plan’ building you see was long covered in cladding (and it was quite a suprise to see the old brickwork again) – You can see an old image here (sign in to zoom) – It looks as though the building has been at least extensively rebuilt since then – however it does sort of match part of the old ground plan – interestingly the lift shaft (eg your image 19) matches the base of the old chimney.. Mmmh.
The building in your image 10 (the one with some of its grey cladding still on) is post WW2 – and seems to be in the same style as the other brick buildings – I would guess that they all date to the same time – possibly some were built on the foundations of older structures – explaning the match in ground plans over time.
As far as I know it was originally part of the paint firm Blundell, Spence & Company, but don’t quote me on that. (They also had a factory on the corner of Spring bank/Beverley road)
Some other bits that look modern (eg image 13) also probably date to the 1960s or before – as you will probably see as they knock it down – I think there might have been some new build in the 1990s though as well – I don’t know what happened to the company – anyone know? I guess that when PPG took over they decided to ‘rationalise’.
I tried several times to get a job there in the 1980s and 1990s but no luck – so no memories I’m afraid.
Does anyone know what is happening to it – is there a reason why it is being demolished??
Looks like I forgot to post the link – it’s http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw036509
Storry Smithson became a subsidiary of the Ellerman group at some point (ie as in the Ellerman Wilson line shipping company – i believe they supplied paint for the ships amongst other things)
Storry Smithson was taken over around 1974 by Croda (I assume from Ellerman) – what happened next I don’t know
Ameron bought paint’s (coatings) division of Croda in 1998.
ie see articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/15/business/fi-39340
i worked there for over 4 years 2001 to 2004 on the C A M s mixing dept , sad to see the plant go ,
its been knocked down now 🙁 time moves on as they say
All these buildings have totally gone now – things move on