THE Ness Factory at Croxdale will be an iconic landmark for many who regularly commute on the A167 to Durham and Newcastle.

The site has a history dating back to the 1900s, when it was used for making munitions in World War II.

The current owner’s grandfather, Frederick Corner, ran the munitions factory and was subsequently awarded an MBE for his wartime work.

The factory employed 300 people, virtually all of whom were women, and made, amongst other things, torpedo ends. After the war, Frederick realised the market for torpedoes was inevitably going to take a bit of a dive, so he hunted around the factory for some scrap metal which he made into tables and chairs. He then put these into an old WD Fire Truck and drove to London, where he sold half to Harrods and half to Selfridges. Frederick then borrowed the money from the bank, bought the factory and set up Ness Furniture in 1945.

The site has subsequently been used for the design and manufacture of contract office furniture until 2015.

This site is now vacant and offers more than 86,000sq.ft of factory and office space. Given its location, it provides an ideal base for a developing business looking to expand.

The accommodation includes a two-storey brick office building with reception, offices and board room, four steel portal frame buildings and an integral showroom.

This area of the county has long had an industrial/business heritage and this profile is continuing to evolve with the development of the Durham Gate project.

Both the factory and office space are available for sale or to rent. For further details contact GSC Grays on 01748 829210.