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five-storey cap, so they would overshadow existing buildings in Welwyn Garden's town centre. The Welwyn Garden City
Heritage Trust argued that the remaining silos were important to the town's heritage and would be hidden by the new plans. In January 2024 the eleven-acre northern part of the development was bought by Malaysian firm
310:. On opening, there were eighteen silos in three rows of six, with a maximum capacity of 5,700 tons of grain. The silos are over 100 feet (30 m) tall and covered by an "attic storey". The western building is a three–storey structure which was used as a production hall. Its multi-storey design incorporates
266:, London and began exports to the country later that year. Demand for the cereal within the UK grew sufficiently to warrant the construction of a domestic factory.The Shredded Wheat Company was attracted to the Welwyn Garden site because of its proximity to London, railway access and minimal pollution.
398:
concrete and ceramic tiles in the exterior design, as well as its location in a garden city with little pollution. The welfare of the factory workers was also publicized, with recreational facilities such as football pitches and showers available to them upon opening. These details were advertised on
314:
to create large amounts of floor and ceiling space; this was to help support a planned extension of the building by an additional two additional stories that was ultimately not pursued. Furthermore, it allowed for the installation of a large quantity of windows on the outside walls to let in natural
318:
Further developments took place in the 1930s and 1950s. The 1937–39 expansion attempted to maintain the visually–appealing elements of the original factory's design, involving the construction of a single–storey production hall and 27 additional silos, increasing the number to 45. Expansions in the
484:
The current scheme for redevelopment is the "Wheat
Quarter". Proposals in the January 2021 planning application included the building of 1,220 apartments on the factory site. Critics of the development noted that the ten-storey apartment blocks were significantly larger than a previously enforced
274:
The factory was designed by de
Soissons between March–July 1924. Inspiration for the Welwyn Garden factory's architecture was taken from the Shredded Wheat Company's Niagara Falls factory. Regardless, de Soissons was still responsible for the designs of the boiler house, garage and wheat
965:
469:. The plans included a controversial demolition of all the factory's silos, and planning permission was eventually refused in 2012. The firm later gained permission for a mixed–use development in 2017 which included the construction of up to 850 homes, development of
410:
The factory was nicknamed "The Wheat". Visitors were invited to view the factory in further support of marketing on its cleanliness. The factory is considered to be a local landmark, and elements of it remain visible to rail passengers travelling on the
255:
were distributed in the national media inviting manufacturers to take up residence in Welwyn Garden. The eastern section of the town was assigned as its industrial district and multiple factories, including
Shredded Wheat opened on Broadwater Road.
958:
198:
complex of 18 silos, and a western three–storey production area. Further expansions to the factory took place in the 1930s and 1950s with the construction of 27 additional silos, a new production area, and office space.
202:
The factory is considered a local landmark, with its image used heavily in marketing for
Shredded Wheat to portray the cereal as healthier and more hygienic than alternatives. Some buildings on the site were granted
393:
Shredded wheat cereals were promoted in the UK as a healthy breakfast option produced in a hygienic environment, and the factory's aesthetic was used as a marketing tool. This was achieved through the inclusion of
94:
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1950s disregarded attempts at maintaining the original factory's aesthetics, with the development of office space and an extension of the factory floor at the cost of workers' recreational space.
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light, however this led to heat and light problems during the building's tenure. The silos were built by Peter Lind & Company Ltd. and the other buildings by Messrs. F.P. Henderson Ltd.
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in 1928, later abbreviated to
Nabisco. The factory was an important local employer, with many locals working there or knowing people employed by it. The factory was acquired by
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in 1961. This led to a reorganisation of the factory floor from its original "U-shape" to more a more complex line structure. Despite good sales, some products, including
219:
for residential and commercial purposes. Parts of the factory have been demolished in preparation for anticipated construction work, including the newer 1930s silos.
262:
breakfast cereals were originally produced in the United States. The
Shredded Wheat Company of America first arrived in the United Kingdom in 1908 with offices in
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415:. Parts of the factory were granted Grade II heritage status by Historic England on 16 January 1981, and it was the entry for 1926 in the
489:. The sale included planning permission for 811 apartments and the renovation of listed factory buildings for non-residential purposes.
354:
Manufacturing was expanded to other shredded wheat products throughout the factory's tenure, such as "Small
Shredded Wheat" in 1939 and
1105:
194:, USA, also operated by the Shredded Wheat Company of America. Two buildings were operational at the time of its opening: a southern
1235:
473:, and the restoration and conversion of the 18 original silos into commercial buildings. Spenhill subsequently sold the site to two
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30:
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88:
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in 1990, who closed the site in 2008 to lower manufacturing costs by consolidating production lines. Production was moved to
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cereal packets produced in the factory and on delivery vans, with an image of the factory on every cereal packet until 1960.
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style de
Soissons used for the rest of Welwyn Garden. There are two main concrete structures supported by
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343:. Grain was transported through the factory using vertical elevators. It was washed and passed through a
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306:: one to the south of the site and the other to the west. The southern building houses the factory's
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of the newer 1930s silos took place on 17 January 2018 in preparation for future construction work.
427:
136:
1054:"Welwyn Garden City's Shredded Wheat silos: The historic disused factory that's dividing the town"
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by machinery, reducing the number of workers involved in the packing process from sixteen to six.
370:, were discontinued due to high production costs and an incompatibility with the new line format.
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in 1953. Products which were not variants of shredded wheat were later introduced, including
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The factory originally had workers pack the cereal manually with the assistance of electric
339:, the 4th Marquess of Salisbury, in March 1926. Operations were powered with gas from local
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44:
1236:"1,200 flats could be built on old Shredded Wheat factory site in Welwyn Garden City"
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351:. The shredded grain was moulded into the required shape and finally baked in ovens.
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936:
932:"THE NABISCO SHREDDED WHEAT FACTORY, Non Civil Parish – 1101084 | Historic England"
524:
520:"THE NABISCO SHREDDED WHEAT FACTORY, Non Civil Parish – 1101084 | Historic England"
240:
190:. The design of the Welwyn Garden City factory was inspired by an existing one in
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The
European Cities and Technology Reader: Industrial to Post-industrial City
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71:
58:
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concept. As a garden city, de Soissons wanted Welwyn Garden to have both
186:
to encourage companies to establish factories in the industrial areas of
1106:"Shredded Wheat factory is one of the top 100 buildings of 20th Century"
211:
on 16 January 1981. Since closing in 2008, there have been proposals to
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1157:"COMPANY NEWS; General Mills Plans to Buy Nabisco's Lineup of Cereals"
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1216:"Welwyn Garden City's former Shredded Wheat factory changes hands"
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1009:"Farewell to Shredded Wheat silos: Pictures of demolition work"
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1081:"Vision for Welwyn Garden City's Shredded Wheat site unveiled"
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279:. Construction had begun by May 1924, with an application for
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is a disused factory which formerly produced variants of the
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The Shredded Wheat Company of America was acquired by the
593:
1288:"IJM Land acquires land in UK for mixed-use development"
1263:"Malaysian-based developer makes Wheat Quarter purchase"
182:, in the United Kingdom. It was designed by architect
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984:Butterfield, Richard (1999). Goodman, David (ed.).
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450:Silo complex following 2018 partial demolition
231:, who was responsible for the construction of
298:of the factory buildings contrasted with the
1034:""An Ideal Factory producing an Ideal Food""
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1322:Grade II listed buildings in Hertfordshire
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235:as a second attempt at developing the
227:The factory was designed by architect
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959:Former Nabisco Shredded Wheat Factory
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462:, who initially attempted to build a
16:Defunct factory in Welwyn Garden City
1327:Grade II listed industrial buildings
1177:from the original on 15 January 2018
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454:There have been various attempts at
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283:submitted retrospectively in July.
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1130:"Factory shuts with 370 jobs lost"
1104:Foskett, Ewan (26 February 2014).
805:"Factory shuts with 370 jobs lost"
794:
14:
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1248:from the original on 20 June 2024
1155:Bryant, Adam (2 September 1992).
1038:Welwyn Garden City Heritage Trust
499:
406:The factory, as seen from a train
1298:from the original on 19 May 2024
1286:Devan, Priya (12 January 2024).
1273:from the original on 19 May 2024
1201:from the original on 29 May 2024
1191:"Tesco buys Shredded Wheat site"
1142:from the original on 20 May 2024
1116:from the original on 29 May 2024
1091:from the original on 25 May 2024
1066:from the original on 19 May 2024
1032:Hollis, Geoffrey (18 May 2022).
1019:from the original on 19 May 2024
1007:Morgan, Nina (18 January 2018).
971:from the original on 17 May 2024
944:from the original on 19 May 2024
859:from the original on 29 May 2024
849:"Tesco buys Shredded Wheat site"
817:from the original on 20 May 2024
532:from the original on 19 May 2024
441:
1261:Moutney, Dan (5 January 2024).
841:
458:. It was first sold in 2008 to
290:Western production hall in 2015
1079:Lewis, Alex (12 March 2017a).
1052:Smith, Matthew (1 July 2021).
438:, Wiltshire costing 370 jobs.
247:to prevent it from becoming a
172:Nabisco Shredded Wheat Factory
24:Nabisco Shredded Wheat Factory
1:
1214:Lewis, Alex (21 June 2017b).
492:
331:Two shredded wheat "biscuits"
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209:Department of the Environment
957:Collins, Nick (April 2018).
7:
1234:Kay, Jamie (17 June 2021).
377:. In 1960, the packing and
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335:The factory was opened by
432:Cereal Partners Worldwide
417:Twentieth Century Society
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428:National Biscuit Company
205:Grade II heritage status
421:100 Buildings 100 Years
270:Design and construction
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1267:Welwyn Hatfield Times
1241:Hertfordshire Mercury
1220:Welwyn Hatfield Times
1195:Welwyn Hatfield Times
1138:. 14 September 2005.
1110:Welwyn Hatfield Times
1085:Welwyn Hatfield Times
1059:Hertfordshire Mercury
1013:Welwyn Hatfield Times
853:Welwyn Hatfield Times
813:. 14 September 2005.
449:
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347:, then shredded with
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1197:. 13 February 2008.
855:. 13 February 2008.
475:property development
413:East Coast Main Line
337:James Gascoyne-Cecil
304:steel reinforcements
178:breakfast cereal in
72:51.80167°N 0.20083°W
698:, pp. 130–133.
653:, pp. 135–137.
630:, pp. 134–135.
323:Operational history
296:modern architecture
281:planning permission
68: /
35:The factory in 2007
1332:Welwyn Garden City
1162:The New York Times
471:urban green spaces
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312:reinforced columns
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233:Welwyn Garden City
180:Welwyn Garden City
153:Reference no.
77:51.80167; -0.20083
45:Welwyn Garden City
1292:The Edge Malaysia
229:Louis de Soissons
215:the factory as a
184:Louis de Soissons
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125:Louis de Soissons
89:OS grid reference
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217:brownfield site
148:16 January 1981
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137:Listed Building
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368:Golden Nuggets
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253:Advertisements
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1300:. Retrieved
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902:Moutney 2024
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861:. Retrieved
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819:. Retrieved
808:
789:Foskett 2014
784:
732:
703:
668:, Section 2.
666:Collins 2018
590:, Section 3.
588:Collins 2018
534:. Retrieved
523:
483:
477:businesses.
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381:process was
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362:in 1955 and
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171:
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110:Original use
95:TL2414812975
18:
878:Lewis 2017b
836:Bryant 1992
777:Lewis 2017a
708:Hollis 2022
681:Morgan 2018
396:whitewashed
308:grain silos
241:residential
237:garden city
75: /
51:Coordinates
1316:Categories
964:(Report).
914:Devan 2024
758:Smith 2021
493:References
479:Demolition
467:superstore
360:cake mixes
223:Background
196:grain silo
145:Designated
139:– Grade II
1171:0362-4331
436:Staverton
383:automated
356:Shreddies
277:elevators
213:redevelop
121:Architect
60:51°48′6″N
1296:Archived
1271:Archived
1246:Archived
1199:Archived
1175:Archived
1140:Archived
1135:BBC News
1114:Archived
1089:Archived
1064:Archived
1017:Archived
966:Archived
942:Archived
890:Kay 2021
857:Archived
815:Archived
810:BBC News
530:Archived
460:Spenhill
419:'s book
341:gasworks
300:Georgian
63:0°12′3″W
41:Location
1225:29 June
1181:20 June
1043:29 June
924:Sources
349:rollers
264:Aldwych
207:by the
156:1101084
105:1924–26
1302:19 May
1277:19 May
1252:19 May
1205:29 May
1169:
1146:19 May
1120:29 May
1095:25 May
1070:19 May
1023:19 May
996:
975:25 May
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