The Ice Factory was a location that WOTS and myself stumbled on while chasing rumors of derelict docks. The buildings contained a surprising amount of decrepit equipment and machinery much of which was buried in a putrid layer of pigeon shit!

Built in 1900 for the Grimsby Ice Company the factory used the newly developed refrigeration technology in order to mass produce ice needed to preserve the fish catch. Water was mixed with brine and allowed to freeze. The ice was then crushed and loaded on to trawlers by conveyor.

As demand for fish grew ice production reached its peak, producing 1,250 tons of ice each day. Helping to establish Grimsby as the largest fishing port in the world by the 1950's. New restrictions on fishing in the north sea meant that the size of Grimsby's fishing fleets began to decline. This combined with the age of of the ice factory meant that the factory closed in 1990. The Ice factory is now grade 2* listed though its future is not yet certain.