free hit counter
N.Corah and Son/Leicester 2015 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

Post a thread

Post a thread in one of the forums

Browse the forums

Browse threads and contribute to reports

Contact Staff

Contact the team

N.Corah and Son/Leicester 2015

The Lone Shadow

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
104
Reaction score
27
Points
28
History

N. Corah and Sons was a manufacturer of hosiery and textiles founded somewhere in the region of 1825, located in Leicester in the United Kingdom. At one time it was the largest knitwear producer in Europe, and its products had a major influence on the development and prosperity of the Marks and Spencer chain of retail stores.

The company was founded by Nathaniel Corah at the Globe Inn, Silver Street, in Leicester – a building which still survives, and which at that time was closely associated with the city's stockinger. Corah's business model was to buy completed stockings in Leicester, and to sell them elsewhere at a profit.

The firm was the first company to develop a relationship with Mark’s and Spencer, a well-known British retailer. The latter's St Michaels brand, which it used from 1928 until 2000, was inspired by Corah's use of "St Margaret" as a label for its clothing

Corah maintained a design room until at least the 1960s, which enabled it to present customers such as Marks & Spencer with designs for finished products such as dresses. It even sent clothes to Marks & Spencer already arranged by size so that they could go straight into the store. In the 1970s, the company's trade with Marks & Spencer was worth £20 million per annum – and Corah celebrated the "golden anniversary" of the relationship in 1976.

However, the downfall of the textiles trade had started in the 1960’s with higher demand in fashion and more expensive materials in a tighter, more low cost market.

By the 1980’s and 1990’s Corah was fastly declining. The factory doors were finally closed for the last time during the late 1990’s.

The Explores

This is one of my favorite explores of all time. I have visited this monumental hosiery factory on several occasions, my first explore was back in August 2013 with The Devil Child and since then I have visited over a dozen times with many other explorers including Unplugged, Southside Assassin and various non-members and newbies to the game. I’ve also had a fair few solo mooches here. My latest explore was earlier this month (April 2015). Entry points at one time were very easy, but as the explorers, vandals, graffiti artists etc have become more and more frequent; locals have boarded up many access points. The Corah site is absolutely enormous, roughly the size of a whole neighborhood estate and I have yet to explore it at any time in less than 4 hours. Approximately 50% of it is completely derelict many parts looking as though people have just downed tools and left with immediate effect, the other 50% is still in use with small time hosiery manufacturers, the largest proportion being owned and used by HM Hosiery, who specialize in sports socks and leggings. The site is very dilapidated and trashed now, although it is a very strong structure and does not appear to be overly dangerous to walk around, however, parts of the roof have started to collapse in recently on one of the buildings and the admin block was completely destroyed by fire in 2012.

Pictures

DSC04330_zpsy5nithzv.jpg


DSC04310_zpsnbt5ai6y.jpg


DSC04313_zpsbeo6qqi1.jpg


DSC04322_zpsrgnifhg8.jpg


DSC04304_zpstmqrjzvz.jpg


DSC04301_zpseucauxag.jpg


DSC03336_zpswem1qdyv.jpg


DSC03290_zpsacwk7ijl.jpg


DSC04323_zpssskju9jy.jpg


DSC03275_zpsckmtn03s.jpg


DSC04334_zpsgqocgp9t.jpg


DSC03385_zpsfarajnen.jpg


DSC03349_zps93lienhh.jpg


DSC03361_zpsqlx1i8yn.jpg


DSC03357_zpsquvtxubf.jpg


DSC03355_zpsprafur8u.jpg


DSC03269_zpsfmpsk6sp.jpg


DSC01632_zps350068db.jpg


DSC01696_zpsbbd1620d.jpg


DSC01686_zpsef23036f.jpg


DSC01706_zpse231338c.jpg


Thank you all for reading my report, I hoped you liked.

The Lone Shadow

 
Last edited by a moderator:

Urbexbandoned

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
2,218
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
This looks great mate, liked reading the history and the pics are cool!

:comp

 

hamtagger

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jan 30, 2014
Messages
3,517
Reaction score
1,062
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Enjoyed viewing this one mate, liking the bus and the derpy toilet :D Cool share (y)

 

The Lone Shadow

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
104
Reaction score
27
Points
28
Enjoyed viewing this one mate, liking the bus and the derpy toilet :D Cool share (y)
I knew you of all people would like that toilet, but unfortunatley the bus is no more now :( The memories though - That bus was like an explore on its own, lol.

 

Session9

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2013
Messages
301
Reaction score
91
Points
28
Nice one L.S. sure is an interesting site :)

 

SpiderMonkey

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
141
Reaction score
100
Points
43
Location
Leicester, UK
Ah! Nice man, haven't seen this in a while. Back when the car was in good condition! Wrecked now. Used to come down here a lot to take pics.

 

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,943
Reaction score
2,197
Points
113
Nice report there, shots 13 & 14 stand out for me and love that old car at the end (y)

 

Urban_Explorer

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
242
Reaction score
37
Points
28
I want the bus & car! do it up and will be my explore bus lmao!!

 

The Lone Shadow

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
104
Reaction score
27
Points
28
Thanks for the comments everybody, I do enjoy this place. I'm sure it won't be the last time I visit.

 

skeleton key

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
4,213
Reaction score
31
Points
48
Well theres plenty of decay and destruction.

Looks like Bosnia (y)

 

The Lone Shadow

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
104
Reaction score
27
Points
28
Yes, very trashed in there, worth having a look just for the wreckage value alone! :D

 

MrT

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
130
Reaction score
51
Points
28
Location
Scunthorpe
Love the first shot, missed the letters on roof and that car, dam there cool as.

 

The Lone Shadow

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
104
Reaction score
27
Points
28
Nevermind, every time I re-visit I spot something new ;)

 
Top