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. It is by far one of the best ive read in a long time. Episode 2 at the underground munitions factory that was used in ww2. It is 386 meters long and stretches from lickey road over to the railway on the opposite side of the factory. The tunnels were built between 19411942 as a shadow factory for the rover car company. The factory expanded and to accommodate workers, austin established a village for his employees bungalows. This historical documentary series was filmed some time ago. Please dont comment about tunnel access your comments will be deleted tunnels are now sealed and houses built on.
Sep 27, 2016 a huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. The german hospital, jersey and its entombed workers. This clubman has been rescued from the longbridge tunnels, making it the last new mini to leave the factory. Yet i wholeheartedly believe that there wasnt a car that emerged from the gates.
Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat. 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. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. Sep 27, 2016 the car factory where time has stalled. We would like to thank our customers for continued support in these difficult times.
Between 1978 and 1979, the then governmentowned british leyland attributed 523 disputes to robinson, the factory convenor at longbridge. These eerie photographs show how time has stalled at mg rovers longbridge plant in birmingham. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of kidderminster, worcestershire. The tunnels today are now locked and are not accessible to the public. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels. South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works. Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. Report we made our way from the west works to the newer body assembly building. Hardwood desks sit surrounded by rover branded chairs. Haunting photographs reveal how the famous longbridge mg rover plant has lain untouched and abandoned since it closed more than a decade ago.
With a couple inches of water in places and lots of mud, oil and grime. Even if you dont like science fiction you might still enjoy this book. 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. Perhaps this work tailed off so they then decided to go into tin printing. 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.
For four years the factory lay empty and on the books of e a olivieri, a birmingham financier at a price of. 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. 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. 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. Nowadays there are few clues to the crucial second world war role that longbridge played in the defeat of the nazis. The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. Known as the north works it was built on the bristol road between the halesowen branch railway and longbridge lane. It is also the first book ive read by publisher, great little books, llc. 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.
Longbridge tunnel mini introduce yourself the mini forum. The use of tunnels on factory sites is away of keeping utility pipework out of harms way and leaving the surface free from obstruction. The factory 5 devon way longbridge birmingham b31 2ts west midlands phone 0121 464 8850. Unfinished rover 75s have been left to rust on the production line at the factory. Last longbridge mini found decaying in a tunnel for sale. The austin motor co ltd at longbridge was given a contract to build 1029 planes at the new shadow factory east works in 1938. Many of the bricked up tunnels were entered and checked. The assembly plant itself is completley stripped bare. In fact, the sides of a tunnel book might make you think of an accordion.
A further contract was placed for 200 planes, making a final total of 1229. 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. Longbridge underground tunnels birmingham history forum. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy. This light blue model was nearing completion, but it has been abandoned with no wheels or windows destined to never be finished.
Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the. In consultation with our staff, we have decided to remain. Image caption the mini clubman was found in a tunnel under the longbridge plant. 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. 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.
Image caption the mini clubman was recovered last year. Back in the 2005, when urban exploration was new and exciting, the sprawling longbridge site came under considerable scrutiny. 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. New life for longbridge transformation of iconic factory into youth space. Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat. After the war the factory returned to manufacturing lorries, tractors and car axles and a new steel foundry was built to support these works. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes. This venture proved to be unsuccessful and the longbridge factory closed down in about 1901. It moves north along manhattans upper east side, taking in the zoo, magnificent mall, terrace, bethesda fountain, and metropolitan museum of. I spoke today to one of the many onsite contractors who worked on the utilities of the longbridge factory. 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. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places.
Rednal barely existed prior to the factory, coming into being in its current form as a result of four events. Longbridge books is dedicated to the publication and promotion of works of fiction and nonfiction that convey canadas multicultural character. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Longbridge tunnel mini clubman to be auctioned bbc news. 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 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. However, after a few years and it was sold to the phoenix consortium in a management buyout, for the princely sum of. 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. 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. Nowadays there are few clues to the crucial second world. The origins of the longbridge works are a tin printing and box manufacturing works built by the birmingham company of white and pike ltd. 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. Longbridge underground tunnels in 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. Longbridge tour an account of a visit to the longbridge works in 1929.
By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some 250,000 workers. A great way to end a fairly successful day of exploring in the area, the shadow tunnels were a brilliant little mooch. The site now known as the longbridge plant was once an area of farmland between lickey road, lowhill lane, and the mainline railways. Dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. The longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt heads to auction. It is science fiction, but a different type of science fiction. A factory was built in 1916 north of the original site on the fields of longbridge farm. Longbridge mg rover manufacturing plant in uk factory tour. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. The old trentham tunnel system, photographed in 2007, that stretched under the main austin rover car factory in longbridge, birmingham, uk.
This was purchased by printing company pike and white, who built a factory on the site in 1895. The overall effect of a tunnel book is to create the illusion of depth and perspective. T he battered bodyshell of the mini clubman 1275 gt lay in the tunnels under the factory for more than 30 years the. Inside the eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers. 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. A car hidden for more than 30 years after being left in a tunnel under the factory where it was built is to be. Mg rover longbridge, factory and air raid shelters. Since 1905, herbert austins longbridge car factory, known locally as the austin has provided a livelihood for thousands of families in the west midlands. Longbridge photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. The first plane off the production line had the following ref. 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.
Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car factory in. Take a tour of the eerie factory tunnels under longbridge. 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. Longbridge underground tunnels east works about time i shared theseaaaaaprobably the most interesting site iave ever visited to document. The last mini to leave the longbridge factory has sold at auction for. Feb 26, 2017 dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of longbridge hayes francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Yes we went through the production line running, and they were building the new mgs six. Longbridge factory ww2 bunker introduction youtube. 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. Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were assembled during ww2. Longbridge east works site to be converted into 700 new homes.
Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were. Tunnel books are made up of a series of pages that are held together by folded strips of paper on each side. 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. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of longbridge. 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. Escapes under the berlin wall and the historic films the jfk white house tried to kill by mitchell, greg isbn. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. 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. Please dont comment about tunnel access your comments will be deleted tunnels are now sealed and houses built on its location. How longbridge defied the nazis to help britain win world war two. The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into.
He said a full survey had been carried out on the underground parts. In 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. Over a period of some ninety years the name of the firm operating from the longbridge factory has changed many times. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself. 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. Final longbridge factory mini sold at auction bbc news. 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. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. In 1994 bmw bought rover and the longbridge plant passed into bmws hands. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant.
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