Longbridge factory tunnels the books

Sep 03, 2011 the former longbridge east works which played a key role in helping defeat hitler during the second world war is to be converted into a major housing site with more than 700 new homes. The mini clubman was used for testing purposes by bl and the underground tunnels were used during the war military production years and then in later years mainly for storage and testing purposes i think. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. Its somewhere ive been meaning to visit for a long time, which is usually the case for me, fortunately the chance arose when we found ourselves looking for a second explore on our return home. T he battered bodyshell of the mini clubman 1275 gt lay in the tunnels under the factory for more than 30 years the. Longbridge in birmingham, once the site of the largest manufacturing plant in the world, could be transformed into a new place for young people through the myplace initiative, a multimillion pound government programme.

Longbridge books is dedicated to the publication and promotion of works of fiction and nonfiction that convey canadas multicultural character. Feb 26, 2017 dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. The site now known as the longbridge plant was once an area of farmland between lickey road, lowhill lane, and the mainline railways. Haunting photographs reveal how the famous longbridge mg rover plant has lain untouched and abandoned since it closed more than a decade ago. Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were assembled during ww2. The factory expanded and to accommodate workers, austin established a village for his employees bungalows. Perhaps this work tailed off so they then decided to go into tin printing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat. The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into administration in april 2005. The book is a walk through the park, beginning at its elegant fifth central park avenue entrance at east 59th street with views of the plaza hotel and grand army plaza. Report we made our way from the west works to the newer body assembly building. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy.

A great way to end a fairly successful day of exploring in the area, the shadow tunnels were a brilliant little mooch. The use of tunnels on factory sites is away of keeping utility pipework out of harms way and leaving the surface free from obstruction. Longbridge tour an account of a visit to the longbridge works in 1929. Longbridge plant since 1906, the area has been dominated by the longbridge plant, which produced austin, nash metropolitan, morris, british leyland, and most recently mg rover cars. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works.

In consultation with our staff, we have decided to remain. A car hidden for more than 30 years after being left in a tunnel under the factory where it was built is to be. Longbridge underground tunnels in 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. In fact, the sides of a tunnel book might make you think of an accordion. The reason its different from most science fiction books is that it has old inventions, a plague, and and they eat mush, but in modern time. Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car factory in. Yet i wholeheartedly believe that there wasnt a car that emerged from the gates. Dec 02, 2014 entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham, uk, amidst the various residential redevelopments, lies. Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. This was purchased by printing company pike and white, who built a factory on the site in 1895.

Back in the 2005, when urban exploration was new and exciting, the sprawling longbridge site came under considerable scrutiny. These eerie photographs show how time has stalled at mg rovers longbridge plant in birmingham. You only have to visit the pride of longbridge rally, which this year takes place on 15 april at cofton park, directly opposite the former factory s main entrance, to see the huge groundswell of enthusiasm that exists for blarg cars. This venture proved to be unsuccessful and the longbridge factory closed down in about 1901. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places. Mg rover longbridge, factory and air raid shelters. The tunnels today are now locked and are not accessible to the public. Since 1906, the area has been dominated by the longbridge plant, which produced austin, nash metropolitan, morris, british leyland, and most recently mg rover cars. After the war the factory returned to manufacturing lorries, tractors and car axles and a new steel foundry was built to support these works. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some 250,000 workers. Longbridge photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Inside the eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers. Nowadays there are few clues to the crucial second world.

The overall effect of a tunnel book is to create the illusion of depth and perspective. The german hospital, jersey and its entombed workers. Longbridge shadow factory tunnels july 20 01 july 20 posted in exploring by tomr permalink the east works was built upon a 15 acre site bounded by groveley lane and lowhill lane from 1936 onwards, as part of the governments shadow factory scheme which lord austin was in charge of from its inception that year. Its a fact that many people suppose that, during the war, car manufacturers merely continued the business of producing automobiles, supplying them solely to the government for the fighting services. Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car factory empty since mass layoffs 11 years ago birmingham plant was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers, but when firm collapsed in. Rednal barely existed prior to the factory, coming into being in its current form as a result of four events. It is 386 meters long and stretches from lickey road over to the railway on the opposite side of the factory. The last mini to leave the longbridge factory has sold at auction for.

The shadow factory tunnels under birminghams longbridge site are the remnants of lord austins secret plans that were hatched to bolster british military might in the face of german military. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 i popped down a couple of weeks ago without my camera and decided to pop back down technically i was on 1 10 so this is a dinner hour visit the entry is starting to get a bit dodgy, someone has gone through one of the bottom steps and one of the steps higher up started to crumble below my foot which. Image caption the mini clubman was found in a tunnel under the longbridge plant. Dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into. A further contract was placed for 200 planes, making a final total of 1229. Sep 27, 2016 the car factory where time has stalled. But longbridge is on its way back the giant plant, focus of the british car industry during the tumultuous 1970s, is being recreated as a town of 2,000 homes and. A factory was built in 1916 north of the original site on the fields of longbridge farm. Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author. Please dont comment about tunnel access your comments will be deleted tunnels are now sealed and houses built on. The old trentham tunnel system, photographed in 2007, that stretched under the main austin rover car factory in longbridge, birmingham, uk. The austin motor co ltd at longbridge was given a contract to build 1029 planes at the new shadow factory east works in 1938.

Escapes under the berlin wall and the historic films the jfk white house tried to kill by mitchell, greg isbn. It is by far one of the best ive read in a long time. Longbridge underground tunnels birmingham history forum. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. This is the story of the vehicles produced there, and the factory itself, in the words of those intimately involved in the styling, design, testing and building of cars. Longbridge tunnel mini introduce yourself the mini forum.

Even if you dont like science fiction you might still enjoy this book. It is science fiction, but a different type of science fiction. Over a period of some ninety years the name of the firm operating from the longbridge factory has changed many times. The first plane off the production line had the following ref. In 1994 bmw bought rover and the longbridge plant passed into bmws hands.

Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat. Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were. The factory is a modern, state of the art youth provision, located in longbridge, south birmingham and is part of the birmingham city council youth service. Please dont comment about tunnel access your comments will be deleted tunnels are now sealed and houses built on its location. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant. A decaying mini clubman that lay hidden in the tunnels under the longbridge factory for 30 years, making it the last mini to leave the famous site, is being put up for auction. Unfinished rover 75s have been left to rust on the production line at the factory. Longbridge east works site to be converted into 700 new homes. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of longbridge.

The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. Image caption the mini clubman was recovered last year. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of kidderminster, worcestershire. How longbridge defied the nazis to help britain win world war two. Aug 10, 2016 check out my revisit at the longbridge tunnels, my first visit was back in in 20 and nout has changed in there. Between 1978 and 1979, the then governmentowned british leyland attributed 523 disputes to robinson, the factory convenor at longbridge. It moves north along manhattans upper east side, taking in the zoo, magnificent mall, terrace, bethesda fountain, and metropolitan museum of. The centre provides a multitude of activities and opportunities for young people aged 1025, from weekly youth club programmes and events to a range of services and support that young. Yes we went through the production line running, and they were building the new mgs six. This historical documentary series was filmed some time ago.

He said a full survey had been carried out on the underground parts. For four years the factory lay empty and on the books of e a olivieri, a birmingham financier at a price of. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. The tunnels were built between 19411942 as a shadow factory for the rover car company. Austin car factory longbridge birmingham stock photos.

With a couple inches of water in places and lots of mud, oil and grime. Sep 27, 2016 a huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. In 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels. Episode 2 at the underground munitions factory that was used in ww2. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself. After the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. Photos courtesy silverstone auctions for decades, the last mini from british leylands former longbridge plant near birmingham, england, sat abandoned in the maze of tunnels below the massive factory, its roof staved in by an unfortunate encounter with a shipping container. Hardwood desks sit surrounded by rover branded chairs. Nowadays there are few clues to the crucial second world war role that longbridge played in the defeat of the nazis. Known as the north works it was built on the bristol road between the halesowen branch railway and longbridge lane.

Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. Many of the bricked up tunnels were entered and checked. This clubman has been rescued from the longbridge tunnels, making it the last new mini to leave the factory. New life for longbridge transformation of iconic factory into youth space. Tunnel books are made up of a series of pages that are held together by folded strips of paper on each side. Since 1905, herbert austins longbridge car factory, known locally as the austin has provided a livelihood for thousands of families in the west midlands. We would like to thank our customers for continued support in these difficult times. The story of how this new business came to be has been in development for over 14 years chronicling the founders experiences in the industry. Longbridge factory ww2 bunker introduction youtube. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge, birmingham, england, currently leased by saic as a research and development facility for its mg motor subsidiary. This light blue model was nearing completion, but it has been abandoned with no wheels or windows destined to never be finished. Firstly the opening of the austin motor works at longbridge in 1905, secondly the extension of the area of the city of birmingham to the northern boundary of cofton hackett in 1911.

Take a tour of the eerie factory tunnels under longbridge. However, after a few years and it was sold to the phoenix consortium in a management buyout, for the princely sum of. The origins of the longbridge works are a tin printing and box manufacturing works built by the birmingham company of white and pike ltd. Last longbridge mini found decaying in a tunnel for sale. The factory 5 devon way longbridge birmingham b31 2ts west midlands phone 0121 464 8850. The longbridge works of the austin motor company is situated seven miles south of birmingham on the main road that runs from the city centre to worcester. Over the years between ww1 and ww2 the factory continued to expand, including the east works which were constructed in 1936 under the governments shadow factory scheme of which lord austin oversaw. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and. It is also the first book ive read by publisher, great little books, llc. Longbridge mg rover manufacturing plant in uk factory tour. Derek robinson, or red robbo as he was dubbed by the media, became synonymous with the strikes that severely affected production at the longbridge plant in birmingham in the 1970s. Longbridge tunnel mini clubman to be auctioned bbc news.