The Ferodo Factory was founded in Caernarfon in 1962, and officially opened by Princess Margaret.
However, the Ferodo Factory faced a significant setback in April 2001, when a lengthy industrial strike by the Transport and General Workers Union members began.
The strike lasted for an astonishing two and a half years.
Following the strike, the Ferodo Factory underwent a change in ownership. Bluefield Caernarfon Ltd acquired the site in 2007/08, with plans for redevelopment and revitalization. However, these plans did not come to fruition, and the factory’s buildings gradually fell into disrepair.
The site was identified as a potential location for a multi-million pound North Wales prison. This development would have created numerous job opportunities and breathed new life into the area.
Plans for this proposed redevelopment where rejected.
Photo: Graham Stephen 2010
An appeal was launched in 2023 to find ex-strikers, in order to invite them to the premiere of a documentary to mark the 20th anniversary of one of Britain’s longest industrial disputes.
The hard-hitting film, Y Lein: Streic Friction Dynamics – The Line: Friction Dynamics Strike, has been made by Dïon Wyn, the grandson of one of the strikers, Raymond Roberts, who was determined the historic injustice should never be forgotten.
Raymond Roberts and his Grandson Dion Wyn at the entrance to the old Ferodo/Friction Dynamics factory in Caernarfon.
Photo: Mandy Jones
The site is currently for sale.
This is what I saw on my visit – Friday 24th June.
The huge interior space the main building was breathtaking – bringing to mind this work.
Anselm Kiefer: Tempelhof 2011 – oil, acrylic, terra cotta, lead and salt on canvas
Modern Mooch 