Fisons Old mill Paper mill lane Ipswich

[zaax]

With the old mill about to be demolished to make way for houses. I was wondering if there was a map of the railway tracks that went though the mill site and across the road to another site.

https://goo.gl/maps/A6tEDFaqRuC2

 

[Tobbes]

I'd be very interested in seeing that - and even more interested if the development meant re-opening Bramford station!

 

[eastwestdivide]

National Library of Scotland website for old maps:
e.g.
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=13&lat=52.0573&lon=1.1654&layers=64&b=1&point=52.0876,1.1028

 

[eastdyke]

With the old mill about to be demolished to make way for houses. I was wondering if there was a map of the railway tracks that went though the mill site and across the road to another site.

https://goo.gl/maps/A6tEDFaqRuC2

I am not sure of the current planning status but would not expect the demolition to include the (large) Grade II listed wooden warehouse which is likely to be incorporated into any development.

The history of the site was the subject of a 2012 Archaeological study and includes both references to the railway tracks within the site and also has enlargements of the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale sheet, pub. 1882 as well as from later dated sheets. Pages 24 and on are the most relevant.

http://grey-lit-suffolkarchaeology.s3.amazonaws.com/2012_019.pdf

Railway sidings are present between the railway line and Bramford Works which continue to just beyond the North Warehouse. These curve to the east as they progress towards the northern end of the Application Site with a single track then leading out across the Paper Mill Lane and into a quarry to the east of the lane.
A single siding runs immediately adjacent to the North Warehouse which is clearly for loading operations in or out of the building. A number of railway tracks can be seen emerging from some of the Bramford Works buildings. etc. etc.

 

[eastdyke]

The Britain from Above website has a few pictures of the Chemical Works taken in 1921 and 1932.

Note that the name Fisons was not used in 1921 it is described as 'Edward Packard and Co Chemical Works, Bramford'. By 1932 it is described as 'Fison Packard & Prentice Works, Bramford'

This 1932 picture shows the track across the road and into the quarry:

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW039274

Other pictures can be found below the one linked.

If you are not already signed up to the website (free), an account will enable the features including zoom.

 

[eastdyke]

Sadly the Grade II listed Victorian Factory on the old Fisons site has been destroyed by fire.
Arson suspected by the Fire Authority.
Report from BBC News.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48175407

The GEML is near the very bottom left corner of the picture and would likely have been affected if the wind had been blowing in the opposite direction.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Another vintage building in need of restoration that went on fire in suspicious circumstances.

 

[Mordac]

Another vintage building in need of restoration that went on fire in suspicious circumstances.

This is inevitable as long as the heritage lobby keeps slapping listings on everything that stands standing for over 20 years.