Been driving past this old factory alot recently & wondered what it was. One of the chaps from Oxford said it was a WW2 era grain storage facility. Anyone any more info? GoogleEarth kmz file attached.
It is a grain silo.There were many around at one time and were possibily constructed from 1938 when the risk of war was recognised as a possibity. Of late,the numbers are diminishing as the brownfield sites on which they stand are being cleared for housing needs.They are well built and the cost to demolish can be quite considerable. They do have a "Stalingrad" appearance and appear to be built to bunker specifications
Yes I would agree its a grain store, or store for any bulk materials such as grain. You will find these type buildings all over the country situated beside Railway lines and in all major docks. wether they originated before or during ww2 I don't know. This similar one is near Ely Cambs. ely - Google Maps The grain was stored in Bins as opposed to silos as in CL1 s pic.
I know it well in passing. Wasn't it regularly used as a location for Doctor Who in the 70s & 80s? - possibly Blakes 7 and other sci-fi things too. If not there, then somewhere very similar.
Water Eaton Grain Silo Oxfordshire. Water Eaton Grain Silo, Oxfordshire - July 09 - Derelict Places Water Eaton Parkway railway station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia File:Water Eaton Grain Silo.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thre was one just ourside York not sure if it is still there also alongside York to Harrogate railway line is a Ministry of Food cold storage building. Last time I passed it was still in use comercially
Grain silos needed to be built to "bunker" standards as grain/flour dust is highly explosive. Alternatively, flimsy construction to vent the blast easily!!
I had a look at this place a little while ago. Both the County Council and English Heritage have some data on the place, which can be summarised as 'A World War II s grain storage depot, opened in 1943 and closed in 1967. Located close to the Water Eaton Bridge. This depot was a part of Buffer Depot 450F. At the time of the Defence of Britain survey (1995-2002) the site was described as in an uncertain condition.' The county council hold a copy of a specialist historic buildings report on the silo, which can be seen in this office:archaeology@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Just saw a 'guest' viewing this thread. As it dates from WW2 I think I shall move it to the Home Front section of the forum from The Barracks.
