free hit counter
Record Ridgway / Marples Tools Ltd - Sheffield - February 2014 | 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

Record Ridgway / Marples Tools Ltd - Sheffield - February 2014

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
This is the former William Ridgway Tools factory site. William Ridgway and Sons company of Sheffield, manufacturers of augers, bits, wood-boring and motorising tools, was founded in 1878 and became a Private company in 1909, these works were founded in the 1930s. William Ridgway Tools merged first of all with Record Tools in 1974 to form Record Ridgway Tools Ltd. Record were another Sheffield company who were renowned for the quality of their vices and industrial clamps. Following the merger Record Ridgway Tools Ltd was made up of 14 UK Companies with 5 overseas companies. A later merger with a woodwork tools company called Marple (which was part-owned by Record and Ridgeway respectively before their original merger) led to the company becoming known as Record Marples Tools. Record Marples was taken over by the Swedish hardware manafacturer AB Bahco in 1982. Despite a management buyout leading to the company reverting to British ownership in 1985 the company struggled financially and following administration was acquired by U.S. based Irwin Tools in 1998 who have since moved production to China in recent years.

I explored this gaff with a non-member a couple of months back, to be honest there isn't much evidence of the old tool making business left, it's more of an art gallery now which is absolutely fine by me, especially given that some of Phlegm's best work is hidden in there :) It's a dirty old place with more pigeons than you can shake a stick at and there's a couple of cool rooftops to get up on. All in all a good wander for a couple of hours with some epic graffiti inside.

13885236286_5cd5ef2b72_b.jpg


13885232266_5565bf5e88_b.jpg


13885109802_5b5c4d41bc_b.jpg


13908374983_b587b6e079_b.jpg


13908371163_d57d2fd079_b.jpg


13885211576_3acf4dd583_b.jpg


13908698014_55383768e9_b.jpg


13885167446_dee96810c3_b.jpg


13885190546_e91d02b7e4_b.jpg


13908306833_4d6edd9c79_b.jpg


13885136252_c0e12cb489_b.jpg


13908670654_72b0d5a6d0_b.jpg


13885117632_3872f257c7_b.jpg


13885140902_e5a6a26077_b.jpg


13885137156_092a2d9632_b.jpg


13908342133_efa0b218f5_b.jpg


13885180266_a20bd0acaa_b.jpg


13885163506_9c366086ec_b.jpg


13885202822_1b3f1d631a_b.jpg


 

AlanMowbs82

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Mar 4, 2014
Messages
77
Reaction score
6
Points
8
love that mate and that graffiti is brilliant, must have took them a long time to do some of them, very talented.

great explore.

 

Bungal

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Messages
110
Reaction score
0
Points
16
looked at this place few times but never bothered having a wander....good stuff...nice little set

 

skeleton key

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
4,213
Reaction score
31
Points
48
I know Graffs not everyones cuppa but when done well and at the right locations is quality :cool2:

Nice shots mate (y)

:comp

 

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
Agreed SK, and this location is perfect because it's a right shithole :poo :mrgreen:

 

Lara

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
2,157
Reaction score
43
Points
48
Love a bit of decent graff, nice one Raw :)

 

shaddam

O.S Friend AAA
OS Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
11
Points
38
that graffiti is top notch !

 

cunningplan

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
139
Reaction score
2
Points
18
No 6 does it for me, theres nothing like a bit of phlegm (y)

Brilliant photos as normal :)

 

Nelly

O.S Friend AAA
OS Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
1,653
Reaction score
3
Points
38
The shot of the graff reflected in the water is epic mate!!

 
Top