Wissington Sugar Factory, College Road, Methwold, King'S Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk, UK, 1969 (b/w...

Photographer, John Laing and Son Ltd; Builder, John Laing and Son Ltd; Sugar beet in the polar beet silo at Wissington Sugar Factory, showing the conveyor bridge, shuttle convey and water jet system A sugar factory was first built at Wissington in 1925. Work began on the construction of a new refinery, five silos, and an extension to the existing factory in March 1968 for the British Sugar Corporation. The project also involved the realignment of railway sidings and was spread over three and a half years. Work was programmed to align with the sugar beet campaign: between September and February each year the focus of construction work shifted from the factory to the silos and other outer works, allowing the factory to open for the unloading and processing of sugar beet. At the time of its construction, the polar beet silo at Wissington was the only one of its kind in England. Beet was unloaded from lorries and entered the silo via the conveyor bridge, and was then distributed by the shuttle conveyor. The base of the silo formed concentric valleys with flumes leading to catchment troughs which carried beet to the factory.