'Asbestos Chernobyl' is a magnet for urban explorers

JUST north of Rochdale town centre sits an abandoned asbestos factory that was once the world’s largest.

- BY GEORGE LYTHGOE

The old Turner Brothers Asbestos factory, off Spod Road, has a long history of industrial use - including the manufacture of asbestos - dating back to the 19th century.

Spodden Park once employed thousands in Rochdale, but it hasn't been in operation since asbestos manufacturing was stopped in the 1990s.

The creation of asbestos products began on the site in 1879, and by 1970 the factory was estimated to have an annual output of around 2,250,000 yards of cloth and 5,500,000 miles of yarn - all made from asbestos.

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that were once widely used in various products due to their resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. The substance is now known to be a carcinogen, and exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious health problems, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.

In 2025, the massive 75 acre site, once referred to as ‘Rochdale’s Chernobyl’, is crumbling and is becoming more and more dilapidated.

People known as ‘urban explorers’ who film themselves going into abandoned buildings and dangerous spots, have been known to visit the site.