Grimsby Ice Factory

The Grimsby Ice Factory is a former factory located in Grimsby, England, that was constructed from 1898–1901 to provide crushed ice to preserve fish stored in ships at Grimsby's seaport. The Grimsby Ice Factory engaged in operations up to 1990. The buildings still contain some of the original historic machinery from times of the operations' origins. During its time of prime operations, it produced 1,200 tonnes of ice daily. The building is 4,350 square metres in size, and at one time it was the largest ice factory in the world. The building is deteriorating, and it has been stated that it will eventually crumble if restoration efforts are not undertaken. Furthermore, historic machinery at the site is at risk from exposure to the elements, because the roof is not watertight.
The factory used four Pontifex ammonia compressors that were powered by steam produced from Lancashire boilers. Ice production increased in 1933, when electrical generators replaced the steam power source. Upon the introduction of electricity, two Linde ammonia compressors that were being used were replaced with "four four-cylinder vertical valve ammonia compressors" manufactured by J & E Hall. These latter J & E Hall compressors remain inside the building today, and have been described as "the sole surviving example of this type of equipment".

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