The Ferodo Factory was founded in Caernarfon in 1962, and officially opened by Princess Margaret.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/7e7aa1_6c5a6e4ef0444af9b3255c3dd3985e47mv2.jpeg?w=740)
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.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ferodogram-july-1961.jpg?w=675)
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.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ferodo-20100822-01-1.jpg?w=675)
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.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/12-11-23-ferodo-5.jpg?w=1000)
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.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/screenshot-2024-06-22-at-12.58.13.png?w=646)
This is what I saw on my visit – Friday 24th June.
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490948.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490949.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490951.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490953.jpg?w=768)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490954.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490956.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490957.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490958.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490960.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490962.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490963.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490964.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490965.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490966.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490967.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490968.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490969.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490970.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490971.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490972.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490974.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490975.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490976.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490977.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490978.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490979.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490980.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490981.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490982.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490983.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490984.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490985.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490986.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490987.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490988.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490989.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490990.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490991.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490992.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490993.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490994.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490996.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1490998.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500001.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500003.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500005.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500007.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500008.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500009.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500010.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500011.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500012.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500013.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500015.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500017.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500018.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500019.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500022.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500023.jpg?w=768)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500026.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500027.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500028.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500029.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500030.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500032.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500034.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500035.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500036.jpg?w=1024)
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/p1500037.jpg?w=1024)
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
![](https://modernmooch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/793961247fb74d351ba8965b39f66195.jpg?w=1024)