free hit counter
Great Britain - Primitive Methodist / Timpsons Engineering - Jun 20 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

Post a thread

Post a thread in one of the forums

Browse the forums

Browse threads and contribute to reports

Contact Staff

Contact the team

Great Britain Primitive Methodist / Timpsons Engineering - Jun 20

BikinGlynn

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
784
Reaction score
990
Points
93
Something a bit different this is one has become a bit of a saga.




Ok what do I know about this place? not a lot Im afraid from when it was a chapel but this is all I can find.
The site has been used as part of the Primitive Methodist movement since 1874 when an iron chapel was opened on this site.
The Primitive Methodist Brick Chapel erected on Bath Road in 1906 was a very large, impressive red brick structure with architectural detailing to the front.
The design was classical with a roundel in the pediment and a name strap below. The lettering has been largely obliterated but it is still possible to discern the letters MIT from Primitive. The porch is a modern, probably Timson addition. In 1940 the accommodation consisted of a chapel measuring 78½ feet by 34 feet and seating (in pews) 276 on the floor of the chapel and 220 in the gallery which extended around three sides of the building, a hall 66½ by 33 feet, and six vestries/classrooms
I did also find that the chapel had a marriage license between 1914 & 1940... but that really is it!

50207879547_3b63390007_b.jpg


50207881262_63a31da18b_b.jpg


I know a bit more about Timsons engineering however, as I have several friends who worked their including a lady who I work with now who worked in this very building & recalls memories of taking documents twice daily to a "secure unit" (glorified shed) across the car park come rain or shine!
I also know Timsons was the premier engineering company in Kettering & everyone interested in engineering wanted one of their few apprenticeship places including myself. I passed their competence exam but alas failed at the interview stage, meaning that I ended up at another engineering company where I am to this day, but given that Timsons have made massive redundancies over the last few years & are just hanging on by the skin of their teeth this was probably not a bad thing.


50207603616_80c1b20a1c_b.jpg


The chapel was closed and became the head office for Timsons Engineering C1940 whose main primises are on the opposite side of the road. At present the building is little used although it is surrounded by Timsons carparks and the garden on the south side has been well maintained
Most the original internal features have gone & the addition of a mezzanine floor has cut trough the main arch so this is barely recognisable as a chapel.
I believe there was a high level bridge created across Bath road to Timsons main works but strangely I cant find any pictures or mention of this so maybe I just imagined it.
Timsons did apply for demolition in 2016 but fortunately to date this has not happened.

]

50214688718_0ab23f7164_b.jpg


The Explore

After an unusually fruitless day & travelling hundreds of miles I suggested we checked this out on way back as its just down the road from my house.
Iv looked at this many times but never really bothered as aforementioned the car park either side is still used by Timsons "business centre" as it now is so any access point would be quickly spotted & sealed, so you can imagine my delight when we jumped over & found access at the rear.
We didnt have long in here as we clocked a pir flashing so grabbed what pics we could & got out.
So why was this open? the reason became apparent the next night, I had to walk back that way so thought I would take a few more externals & was shocked to hear smashing noises then witness a fire ext career through the 1st floor window onto the gardens!
I couldnt believe it, this has been untouched for as long as I remember then the night after Id been in the windows get smashed, hence my reluctance to post as I didnt want to be associated with this.
It did occur to me after though that said hooligans were prob the ones that opened it just before my visit!
So I shouted that they had been spotted & the smashing stopped, within seconds the rozzas rolled around the corner so someone else had obviously called them. I was stood out front & they asked me "do u know where they are getting in" which I instinctively replied "yeah round back... Oops" Anyway 5o climbed the fence but as the wpc was struggling to get over I saw said crettins appear at the far side & shouted for her to get em, they went back round the building straight into officer No1's arms much to my delight.
Im guessing they just got a slap on the wrist but am hopeful they threw the book at em!

Sure enough a few nights later the top windows they smashed had been fully boarded so hats off to Timsons for that.
Anyway heres some pics, first off the few remaining chapel features.

50207604511_98113cdbfb_b.jpg



50207076353_130a19ec04_b.jpg


50207076193_56376e96ed_b.jpg


The rest of the pics are relics from Timsons, but still some interesting stuff


50207603531_b507fbfc21_b.jpg



50207880432_90495dfd35_b.jpg



50207880792_5148410aeb_b.jpg



50207880732_6168078655_b.jpg



50207075828_227e45e1d3_b.jpg



50207603416_ec3ab497e5_b.jpg



50207604686_1e21cd943f_b.jpg


50207076918_89fff4de95_b.jpg



50207604201_bc014d683c_b.jpg



50207076643_98fc9fe2e2_b.jpg


50207603146_f6fd14c521_b.jpg



50207603746_8054cf048b_b.jpg


50207603331_f271da01c8_b.jpg


& Finally this poor phone pic. Note ALL the top windows put out but the scum got nabbed!


50207615186_9acfa2d8b3_b.jpg


Stop The Planet, I Want To Get Off!
QuoteReply
ReportBookmark


  • Like
 

Dmc68

OS Member
OS Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2018
Messages
80
Reaction score
90
Points
33
Location
Mid Wales
I remember going to see my mum in there, id pop in on my way home from St Marys school to King Street. :)
 

jones-y-gog

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
1,742
Reaction score
848
Points
113
Location
Leodis
Hopefully the scrotes got their comeuppance. Nice report, I like the old photos of the workers that you found.
 

ASOM

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
31
Reaction score
42
Points
18
Interesting report. Am I seeing that right, that the archway has been literally sheared off to put the lowered ceiling in??
That's how it looks...
 

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
Some nice features in there and that receipt from 1941 is amazing :love:
 

BikinGlynn

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
784
Reaction score
990
Points
93
Interesting report. Am I seeing that right, that the archway has been literally sheared off to put the lowered ceiling in??
That's how it looks...

yes they have struck a mezz floor straight through the middle of the lot.
Shame really it didnt feel like a chapel anymore
 
Top