A tyre factory in the West Midlands that in later years specialised in mixing rubber compounds and retreading of tyres.
Visited March 2017 Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK Closed, Decommissioning
The Goodyear site in Wolverhampton dates back to 1927, when the Ohio-based company started expanding into other countries. The first tyre was produced in December of that year, and just 18 months later had already produced one million tyres. At its height, over 4,000 workers were employed at the site.
In 1939 the factory switched to war-time production, specialising mainly in the manufacture of 5 foot aircraft tyres, weighing 355 pounds. Staff worked 20 on, and then got just one day off.
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – View from front gate
The factory saw a steady decline in production levels from the 1980s with many rounds of redundancies being made over the years. Demolition work commenced in 2007, in order to sell off some of the land taken up by disused buildings. The iconic blue and yellow chimney sporting the Goodyear logo was demolished the following year.
From 2012, after joining forces with Dunlop, the remaining buildings were used only for mixing and retreading of tyres. However, plans to close the site fully were announced in 2015, and production ceased in December of that year.
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Archive image of an employee working on a tyre
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Archive image of a worker fitting tyres to machinery
Starting off with the mixing plant – we found this mostly dismantled…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Much of the mixing plant was stripped outGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Mixing plant main area
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – The areas next to the mixing plant were also mainly empty
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Below the mixing plant
Let’s move into the Retread facility where a bit more remains…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – One of the production lines was still mainly in tactGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Retread production line
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Looking into the retread facility
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Part of the production line
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Rear of the production lineGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Tool station
A host of machines for various purposes were tucked at the end of line…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – A host of machines for various purposes tucked at the end of lineGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Machinery
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Various bits of machinery
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – More machinery
Moving further through the Retread plant, we find the machines that would have stripped back and prepared tyres ready to have new tread applied…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Tyre stripping machineGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – The machines that would have stripped back and prepared tyres ready to have new tread appliedGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Tyre stripping machine
Next we head upstairs, starting where the conveyors from the production line below are elevated to this level
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Stripping out well under wayGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – A Gent clock leads us to the next area
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Top of a conveyor elevator
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – End of a conveyor line
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – More conveyors along the line
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Storage area with an old sign
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – More machinery
Heading further around this floor we find some ancillary equipment and support services…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – There were a few of these machines around the edges of the factoryGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Bradshaw Electric truck
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Avery scales
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Ancillary tanks
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Mill rescue cabinet
Up to the next few floors…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Silos in a cupboard
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Yet more conveyor lines
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Header tanks as we move higher up the building
Away from the production lines, we find offices, locker rooms and showers…
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – This office was still in use
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Staff canteenGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Lockers and shower cubicles
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant – Small spare component storageGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Old decaying shower room
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Old decaying shower room
And finally, the workshop area
Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Lathes and drills in the workshopGoodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton – Workshop area
2 thoughts on Goodyear Mixing and Retread Plant, Wolverhampton
So sad to see the end of a part of Wolverhampton’s industrial heritage,where so many men and women gave their Lives to the Company,who just walked away and let them down…
Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK Closed, Decommissioning 
So sad to see the end of a part of Wolverhampton’s industrial heritage,where so many men and women gave their Lives to the Company,who just walked away and let them down…
It is sad to see it all go, I always think about the workers when I visit places such as this.