Meet The Company

Bendcrete is the oldest trading climbing wall manufacturing company in the world and was founded in 1972 by Gordon Bendall. Prior to building climbing walls Gordon had a background in sports administration and local government.

Ian Dunn joined the company part time in 1985 and full time in April 1986. Ian had previously held the position of Technical Officer to the British Mountaineering Council and had also had previous employment within the mountaineering trade, local government and outdoor education. Ian is a very experienced climber with many first ascents to his credit and an impressive list of routes around the world.

Bendcrete have made climbing walls for a wide range of clients including International Competitions, Sports and Leisure Centres, Scouts and Guides, the Armed Forces and some of Europe's foremost commercial Climbing Centres. Some Bendcrete walls have been built in a single stage, but many of our customers have been so delighted with their wall that they've asked us to develop and extend it, sometimes again and again over many phases! We've used Bendcrete features to enhance swimming pools and playgrounds. As well as building brand new walls we've also undertaken many improvements to existing, poorly designed walls.

The Climb

The Michael Sobell Centre, Islington (1991) (The first permanent competition training wall in Britain.)
Wymondham Leisure Centre, near Norwich (1992/94)
Plas Y Brenin National Mountain Centre (1993)

The Bendcrete Climbing Centre, West View Leisure Centre, Preston (1990/93)

The Rope Race, Marple (1993)
The Ackers Trust Disabled Climbing Tower (1992)
The Arethusa Trust, Lower Upnor, near Rochester(1994/95)
The Michael Sobell Leisure Centre, Islington (1975 onwards)

Salford University (1993/95/98)

Fort William Sports Centre Centre (1988/92/93)
Glossop Leisure Centre, Glossop (1990)
Blackburn YMCA (1991)
Broughton Recreation Centre, Salford (1991)
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (1991)
Stanley Park Leisure Centre, Blackpool (1994)
Leicester Leys Leisure Centre, Leicester (1995)
The Wave, The Foundry, Sheffield (1991)
Birmingham Climbing Centre (1993/94/95)
Marlborough School (1989)

The Berghaus Wall, Eldon Leisure Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne (1990/92)

Wellington College, Near Wokingham (1990)
Balderstone Community School, Rochdale (1992)
Brunel University (1972 onwards in eleven stages of development [!] including the "Pump Room", 1992)
Oslo University, Norway (1994)
Bergen University, Norway (1995/97)