Record Details
| NHER Number: | 6531 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Site of Fison's Fertiliser Factory, Two Mile Bottom |
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Summary
This factory was one of the oldest in Britain. It was demolished in 1975 but not before being recorded by the Norfolk and Norwich Industrial Archaeology Society.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 8523 8673 |
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| Map Sheet: | TL88NE |
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| Parish: | THETFORD, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
One of the oldest factories in Britain.
Demolished in 1975.
Recorded by Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society.
See full details on fiche.
Photographs (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NAU).
The initial factory, 'Fison's Vitriol and Manure Works' was located close to the river bank and was served by a railway spur from the main line.
Information from (S2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 15 July 2008.
The manure works was first built in 1853, production ceased in 1954 and the site was used as storage before being pulled down in 1975. The plant was initially steam driven, updated in 1921 by Ruston & Hornsby oil engies and replacing horse drawn wagons in 1937 with tractors. Electricity was first drawn from the Nation Grid in 1939 to power lighting in the works. By 1961 the entire plant was electrically powered.
See extensive photographic record, detailed itinery, plans, maps and documents for the site and business in NIAS records (S3)
W. Arnold HES 24/01/11
February 2011. Norfolk NMP.
The factory and earthworks associated with quarrying and disturbed ground are visible on aerial photographs (S4-S9). Tramways serving the factory are also visible on historic maps (S10-S11). An area of disturbed ground is visible centred on TL 8537 8660 along with another area of quarrying centred on TL 8573 8676, although this area also contains some World War Two activity, including a possible searchlight and/or gun emplacement (NHER 54504).
E. Bales (NMP), 1 Feb 2011.
November 2017. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
A tramway associated with the factory has been mapped and recorded as NHER 62115. Disturbed ground, which may relate to Second World War military training activity and is visible in the area surrounding the factory on 1940s aerial photographs, has been recorded as NHER 62116.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 23rd November 2017.
Monument Types
- BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1853 AD to 1975 AD)
- FACTORY (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1853 AD to 1975 AD)
- FERTILIZER WORKS (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1853 AD to 1975 AD)
- TRAMWAY (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1875 AD to 1975 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Fiche: Exists. |
| <S1> | Photograph: SC2. |
| <S2> | Article in Monograph: Robins, P. 1998. Mesolithic sites at Two Mile Bottom, near Thetford, Norfolk. Stone Age Archaeology: Essays in Honour of John Wymer. |
| <S3> | Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records. |
| <S4> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: USAAF. 1944. US/7GR/LOC 348 2243-4 27-MAY-1944 (NMR). |
| <S5> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1945. RAF 106G/UK/369 4076-7 08-JUN-1945 (NMR). |
| <S6> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1947. RAF CPE/UK/1918 3085-7 09-JAN-1947 (NMR). |
| <S7> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1947. RAF CPE/UK/2021 4071-2 21-APR-1947 (NMR). |
| <S8> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1959. RAF 58/2688 0392-3 25-JAN-1959 (NMR). |
| <S9> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1959. RAF 58/2688 0374-5 25-JAN-1959 (NMR). |
| <S10> | Map: Ordnance Survey. 1889 - 1891. Ordnance Survey first edition 6 inch map.. 1:10,560. |
| <S11> | Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-7. Ordnance Survey second edition 25 inch (1902-7) map. 25 inches to 1 mile. |
Related records
| 62115 | Related to: 19th and 20th century tramway associated with Fison's fertiliser factory (NHER 6531) (Monument) |
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