I was told the Redruth Brewery site was open in August 2013 so I took the opportunity for a quick look see with Tracy and a bag of cameras.
The site had been used as a brewery as far back as 1742, and operated until 2004 when the company went into liquidation, the brewery was then closed in March of the same year.
Since then the area was heavily vandalised and had several major fires. In July 2014 work started on the site to facilitate a £1.7million regeneration project which is scheduled to be completed during 2015. The aim of the project is to turn the derelict site into an area of public spaces, workshops and houses. It will also be the home of a Cornish Archive Centre which will be called Kresen Kernow.
Whilst many of the building will require demolishing the long term aim is to preserve and restore as much of the historical site as possible.
Redruth Brewery 1: The site had been abandoned for several years. Vandals had sadly destroyed part of the complex. This is the main chimney.Redruth Brewery 2: Concrete foundations suggested that machinery was probably sited here.Redruth Brewery 3: Looking towards the chimney from the other side across the rubble strewn yard.Redruth Brewery 4: One of the older buildings near the base of the complex’s chimney.Redruth Brewery 5: These pipes were rising from the base of the chimney. Maybe used for ventilation.Redruth Brewery 6: Hidden away in the undergrowth was this interesting valve arrangement, makes a nice photograph.
The next few images are of the building frontage in the main yard. It must have been quite a mix of old and new architecture.
Redruth Brewery 7: In its heyday the brewery much have been an amazing place to visit.Redruth Brewery 8: This section of the brewery was destroyed by fire, since its closure there were major fires there in 2007, 2010 and 2011.Redruth Brewery 9: So much history destroyed, the site was incredibly dangerous and we did not approach the badly damaged buildings.Redruth Brewery10: The stonework was impressive with a high quality of workmanship.Redruth Brewery 11: More concrete foundations that gave no clue to what was mounted there.Redruth Brewery 12: I found this section of the yard the most photogenic. Sadly the sun was in the wrong place to get the best effects.Redruth Brewery 13: It was so very difficult to imagine what the site had looked like before the fires.Redruth Brewery 14: One of the interior walls of the worst of the gutted buildings. In places strong metal supports held up the walls.Redruth’s Brewery 15: This room was my favorite, it looked more like something that belonged at Cape Canaveral for the launching of rockets rather than a brewery.Redruth’s Brewery 16: The top of brewery chimney visible through the hole in the roof.Redruth’s Brewery 17: I have been told this is the part of the brewery that held fermenting tanks.Redruth’s Brewery 18: A final image of this part of the site. The sun shining through the roof had added to the effect of the images.Redruth’s Brewery 19. :Always on the lookout for patterns and textures this smashed window caught my eye.
Many of the buildings on the Redruth Brewery site were unsafe. However we found some very interesting buildings which were open. Not missing the chance we dared to go inside. The results were ok but my flashgun equipment was elsewhere.
Redruth’s Brewery 20: One of the huge warehouses on the site, when working this would have been full of alcoholic goodies.Redruth’s Brewery 21: Another image of the same warehouse, I wish I had my flashguns with me, sadly they were not in my bag.Redruth’s Brewery 22: The building were all quiet and dilapidated, there was an eerie atmosphere and the sense of being watched, Tracy did not like it, frankly neither did I.Redruth’s Brewery 23: The roof in this building had suffered badly and we did not risk going any further.Redruth’s Brewery 24: Mother nature hadRedruth’s Brewery 25: Finally, the boarded up ornate gates that lead into the main brewery yard.
