Nov 29, 2011 economic hardship blights longbridge where car industry once boomed this article is more than 8 years old the chancellors autumn statement was watched closely by those hit by austerity in the. The shadow factory tunnels are what remain of lord austins secret. The eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers where. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself. Train tickets from longbridge to birmingham can start from as little as. Jul 25, 2016 nowadays, the longbridge site bears little resemblance to the thriving car plant that once proudly dominated the landscape. Eerie images have revealed the abandoned remains of an underground factory in birmingham where engines that powered the spitfire planes. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes. Car factory frozen in time with vehicle shells still on.
But longbridge is on its way back the giant plant, focus of the british car industry during the tumultuous 1970s, is. Longbridge to redditch 3 ways to travel via train, taxi. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. Sep 27, 2016 a huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. However, the plant was and is generally known simply as longbridge. After the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned.
The longbridge tunnels, birmingham derelict places. A desirable 1275gt, it was used to run errands around the property before an accident caved the roof in and it was abandoned in the labryrinth of tunnels beneath the plant. Longbridge plant simple english wikipedia, the free. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge. I worked as a student placement scheme at longbridge and gaydon in the mid90s and remember seeing on the map of the longbridge plant there. The car was damaged by a storage container falling on it and had been left without an engine or gearbox for around 30 years before being recovered during.
The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. 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. The last mini to leave the longbridge plant did so in 2012, when a 1970s 1275gt which was used by staff to travel around the car plant was recovered from the disused tunnels under the plant. What plans are there in place to protect the line for a planned reopening to rubery. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant. I noticed that the book noted editor, who found harry potter, but it is the only link with harry. By march 1940 tunnels were also constructed to link to other parts of the. Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham, uk. The austin factory at longbridge in june from english heritage book. 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. This was purchased by printing company pike and white, who built a factory on the site in 1895. 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.
The origins of the longbridge works are a tin printing and box manufacturing works built by the birmingham company of white and pike ltd. Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat. Rover longbridge the site was once the biggest manufacturing plant in the world and part of birminghams transport history, many thousands were employed producing and assembling cars in peacetime, which include the iconic austin mini, as well as aeroplanes, such as the lancaster bomber, and munitions during the wars. South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works. The shadow factory tunnels under birminghams longbridge site are the remnants of lord austins secret plans that were hatched to bolster. In the second world war, the main plant produced munitions and tank parts, while the nearby east works of austin aero ltd at cofton hackett produced short stirli. Aug 11, 20 longbridge underground tunnels east works about time i shared theseaaaaaprobably the most interesting site iave ever visited to document. Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels atlas. Great railroad tunnels of north america william lowell putnam on. 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.
There are several references to the longbridge plant where some characters work in the novel the rotters club and its sequels the closed circle. 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 was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were assembled during ww2. The last i heard most of the exchange sidings at the longbridge plant were lifted last year. Each page features openings that allow the reader to see through the entire book to the back cover. In 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. Longbridge mg rover manufacturing plant in uk factory tour. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places. Jan 01, 2020 the longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy. Longbridge underground tunnels page 2 birmingham history forum.
The factory on bristol road south was known locally after the firms founder as the austin until c1990 when, after a series of company amalgamations, it became the rover. These tunnels are filled with creepy car parts, deadly beams and plenty. Economic hardship blights longbridge where car industry once boomed this article is more than 8 years old the chancellors autumn statement was watched closely by. May 29, 2018 a desirable 1275gt, it was used to run errands around the property before an accident caved the roof in and it was abandoned in the labryrinth of tunnels beneath the plant. The book tunnels i found on a shelf in a public library, i read a little summary. The name of longbridge is synonymous with car production and not only in birmingham. Return to longbridge eastworks tunnels urban exploration. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. May 21, 2017 it was the gwr who recognised that there was still a limited demand by workers travelling to and from the austin plant, and they introduced two daily morning trains from old hill to longbridge, with two return workings in the evening. Longbridge tunnel mini introduce yourself the mini forum. Longbridge car plant back in action fullscale car production is due to restart at one of the uks most famous plants after a threeyear closure. In fact, the sides of a tunnel book might make you think of an accordion. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge, birmingham, england, currently. The battered mini clubman used to travel around the sprawling plant had.
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 w. Feb 26, 2017 dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. Last longbridge mini goes under the hammer birmingham live. Economic hardship blights longbridge where car industry once. The site now known as the longbridge plant was once an area of farmland between lickey road, lowhill lane, and the mainline railways. Longbridge is in close proximity to and can be viewed from the lickey hills. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world. T 6pcs greenhouse hoops rustfree grow tunnel tunnel, 4ft long steel with plastic coated plant supports for garden fabric, plant support garden stakes. Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author.
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. Everybody out longbridge finally grinds to a halt autocar. May, 20 longbridge tunnel mini goes to auction published may 20 the mini clubman so famously rescued from the longbridge tunnels in 2012 making it the final new example of its type to leave the factory will be going on sale at silverstone auctions on 27 july. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book. Lickey road where the cars of mg rover workers used to be doubleparked outside the factory, is now a smart housing estate, just up from the retail park. Longbridge east works site to be converted into 700 new homes. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. There are 3 ways to get from longbridge to redditch by train, taxi or car. A warning in the longbridge chapter of her book, published last year, dame laura says. The overall effect of a tunnel book is to create the illusion of depth and perspective. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. 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. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are.
It is a story about a boy will burrows and his father roger who are mystified researchers history. Archive photographs chart the transition from boom to bust. 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. This short article about the united kingdom can be made longer. Jan 14, 2016 after the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned. Ten years ago mass production at longbridge car plant came to an end after more than a century. Longbridge tunnel mini goes to auction honest john.
Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the. Longbridge plant birmingham, united kingdom landmark. Train tickets from longbridge to five ways can start from as little as. Inside the eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers daily mail. The story is a few years old at this point, but check it out here on, which starts up following its rescue and eventual auction. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes the explore a great way to end a fairly successful day of exploring in the area, the shadow tunnels were a brilliant little mooch. 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 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. Report longbridge tunnels jan 2016 underground sites. The longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt heads to auction. Car factory frozen in time with vehicle shells still on conveyor belts 11 years after mg rover collapsed.
Ten years ago mass car production at longbridge plant in birmingham came to an end. Longbridge plant is an automobile plant in longbridge, birmingham, west midlands, england. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some 250,000 workers. Building a vibrant new community to inspire the next generation. Herbert austin bought the disused longbridge site in 1905, it having been repossesed by the bank in 1901. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some. Families, businesses, students longbridge birmingham is a place with a proud heritage and an exciting future for us all. Apr 02, 2019 the site now known as the longbridge plant was once an area of farmland between lickey road, lowhill lane, and the mainline railways. Longbridge car plant back in action uk news express. Longbridge east works site to be converted into 700 new. Just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham.
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