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