Rover longbridge tunnels the book

But longbridge is on its way back the giant plant, focus of the british car industry during the tumultuous 1970s, is. The name of longbridge is synonymous with car production and not only in birmingham. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places. 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. Byers pledges to save longbridge by michael harrison business editor. So, on 29 august 1958, the final longbridge to old hill service departed, with the birmingham new street services finally ending on 2 january 1960. 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. This was the only purpose built tunnel that was made for manufacturing during bombing raids. By march 1940 tunnels were also constructed to link to other parts of the. Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat.

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. The original idea for the reunion came from louise lane who worked at longbridge from 1992 until the closure, then went to bentley for a year before coming back to longbridge as mg motors uk first employee. Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. Finished in 1961, cab 2 produced its first car, an austin a40, a year later. Apr 02, 2015 the derelict mg rover factory in longbridge, in 2008. Longbridge was gearing up for production of the austin allegro, and in 1971 a conveyer was built over the bristol road to take completed bodyshells from west works to the rest of the factory for completion. The austin factory at longbridge in june from english heritage book. Having sold land rover to ford, bmw takes the mini with it, depriving rover of its more successful component and switching production to oxford. The suburb is located in a triangle formed by rubery and the bristol road south to the north and north west, the former mg rover car factory to the south east and the lickey hills and cofton hackett park just south. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. I feel the pride of longbridge is a must for any mini owner or owners of longbridge built vehicles or those with an austin connection, if they are close enough to make it. Unique mg and rover prototypes could be scrapped as part. There are a few pics of this in use in a book you can see in birmingham central library in the local reference section, or pop into waterstones and look for the longbridge book.

Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car factory empty. 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. Graham day had made some painful cuts in the business during his short tenure as chairman and managing director of rover but, thanks to the comparative excellence of the rover 800, his rather risky strategy of taking. The heyday of car manufacturing at longbridge birmingham. The tunnels were built between 19411942 as a shadow factory for the rover car company. The closure of the mg rover plant in longbridge birmingham live. Apr 02, 2019 bmw rover intended to replace the longrunning mini with an allnew model, and development was done in the 1990s. Rover tunnels under old longbridge plant stock photo edit. The rover 75 is an executive car that was produced by british car manufacturers rover group and later by mg rover, under the rover marque. Check out the next trains departing from london underground zone to longbridge for tuesday 11th feb 2020. The collapse to which he refers is the closure of the longbridge mg rover car plant once part of. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.

With rover safely tucked under the wing of british aerospace, the company was starting to begin to look like a viable, going concern. Dec 02, 2014 blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels. However in 2000, bmw decided to sell rover but keep the mini brand, so plans to build the mini at longbridge were cancelled. When you book a rover dog sitter, your dog stays in your. Apr 16, 2014 pride of longbridge show a success april 16, 2014 staff events, highlights comments off on pride of longbridge show a success this years pride of longbridge pol rally in cofton park, birminham on saturday april 12 was the bestattended in its nine year history after 2,800 people went along to the event. Shop ford f250 vehicles for sale in independence, ks at cars. A table of contents in book 1 lists the major components and systems together with the scction and book numbers. For the full train timetable, or to search for a later time or date, click here. It is 386 meters long and stretches from lickey road over to the railway on the opposite side of the factory.

The md had asked her to contact previous longbridge workers to let them know about mg motors uks cars. However, after a few years and it was sold to the phoenix consortium in a management buyout, for the princely sum of. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes. Why do san antonio dog owners choose rover dog boarding. There are several air raid shelters, observation posts, and tunnels associated with the wartime production. Mar 31, 2000 for rover, and british manufacturing as a whole, the innovation was stateof the art. I really hope mg rover and longbridge is saved and then maybe a museum can be built on part off the site to show car making past, present a future also the history off the site in ww2. 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.

May 21, 2017 representations from birmingham city council over the issue of the withdrawal had a limited effect, with the birmingham new street to longbridge being retained temporarily. Nowadays there are few clues to the crucial second world. Rover 200400series r8 the cars that brought success to. Containing unique images from the official company archive, this book charts almost one hundred years of carmaking at longbridge near birmingham. The longbridge tunnel mini 1275gt jeff lavery for years, photos confirmed what mini enthusiasts knew.

But over half of the longbridge workforce have found new jobs and many of the rest are retraining. Sep 27, 2016 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 2005 it. Feb 26, 2017 dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. Screens cut off a section of the canteen at longbridge this week, and behind them officials from the government. The secret nuclear bunker built as the uks last hope. The eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers where munitions. You will be guided through the old wwii rover tunnels and then into the cold war. The old trentham tunnel system, photographed in 2007, that stretched under the main austin rover car factory in longbridge, birmingham, uk. Mar 12, 2009 austin rover longbridge birmingham roundabout takes a look at the history, culture, development and regeneration of birmingham in the west midlands with photos, information and comment on a growing number of its landmarks. The longbridge factory was radically reorganised in 1919. Research, compare and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 3 f250 models in independence. Longbridge books is dedicated to the publication and promotion of works of fiction and nonfiction that convey canadas multicultural character. Apr 02, 2015 a member of the public wipes a tear from his eye during the rally of mg rover cars which left gaydon to travel to q gate, longbridge, after the collapse of the birmingham car maker.

I was told they were built as bomb shelters during the war. The remaining 69 acres of the site are owned by saic. These tunnels are filled with creepy car parts, deadly beams and plenty of muddy water. While john towers was being given a heros welcome on 9 may 2000. Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat.

With a couple inches of water in places and lots of mud, oil and grime, it had the grotty factor. Back in the 2005, when urban exploration was new and exciting, the sprawling longbridge site came under considerable scrutiny. In 1994 bmw bought rover and the longbridge plant passed into bmws hands. A great way to end a fairly successful day of exploring in the area, the shadow tunnels were a brilliant little mooch. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has lain. Images include rooftop shots, inside the factory and offices and in some of the underground tunnels under the plant. The explore this explore happened by chance really. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world.

Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were assembled during ww2. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels. With unfinished cars left to rust on the production line, these eerie photographs show how the longbridge plant in birmingham has been left. While there are several options for dog boarding in san antonio, few can give dogs and puppies all the comforts of home like rover sitters can.

I was amazed that there are underground tunnels at the rover site ww2 bunkers and work shops i think, not a lot of infomation on them as it was a millitary installation, also there was tunnels at the old rubery hospital just up the road i think they linked up. Trains london underground zone to longbridge cheap. Bmc merged with jaguar in 1966, and then with leyland cars who already owned rover and triumph in 1968 to form the british leyland motor corporation. Drakelow tunnels are a former top secret underground military complex beneath kingsford country park north of kidderminster, worcestershire. The origins of the longbridge works are a tin printing and box manufacturing works built by the birmingham company of white and pike ltd. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels atlas. The longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt heads to auction. Mg is planning to scrap a collection of unique prototypes, hailed as an important part of the history of britains motor industry, as part of its plans to downsize the former rover factory at. The closure of mg rover national audit office nao report. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. Open days of drakelow tunnels are usually held every 3 months, please.

After the war, they were used as part of the mg rover works, as well as a. Roots are smooth and dark red with crisp, white flesh. We were having another look through mike scotts pictures from inside northfield manor earlier, and were reminded of a set of images he took back in 2007 in, on and under the rover plant at longbridge. 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 a series of forgotten tunnels that are now only enjoyed by the odd urban explorer who can find a way in. The final mini rolls off the longbridge production line. The cover of each book details the sections contained within that book.

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 page 2 birmingham history. This factory produced aircraft, ambulances, searchlights, marine engines, shells and guns for the armed forces during the second world war. Click to email this to a friend opens in new window click to share on facebook opens in new window. Haunting photographs reveal how the famous longbridge mg rover plant has lain untouched and abandoned since it closed more than a decade ago. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy. In the 60s i had cause to enter some of the tunnels for work reasons. The government yesterday made it clear that bmw would be offered aid from the taxpayer to keep rover s giant longbridge plant open. Since the collapse of mg rover in 2005 part of the site has been redeveloped for commercial and residential usage. Byers pledges to save longbridge february 1999 news. Longbridge underground tunnels east works about time i shared theseaaaaaprobably the most interesting site iave ever visited to document. Longbridge mg rover manufacturing plant in uk factory tour. 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.

Bodies for rover 100 and 200 cabriolets, and later the mgf and tf, would arrive in tunnels from the now demolished west works for finishing. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works. A derelict mg rover factory in longbridge birmingham live. For nearly a century the longbridge site churned out some of the best known cars on the countrys roads, from the austin seven and the original. The austin motor company was founded here by herbert austin in 1905 and it has since been home to the british motor corporation, british leyland, rover group and latterly mg rover. Shop lamborghini murcielago vehicles for sale in independence, ks at cars. I for one would quite happily pay a fiver to have a poke around in the tunnels under longbridge. In 1988, the longbridge plant, along with the rest of austin rover, was sold to british aerospace, who renamed it as the rover group in 1989. Train tickets from coventry to longbridge can start from as little as.

Part of south works was demolished to make way for the new car, and the rover 100 was discontinued in 1998. Calling all exl longbridge workers who would like to keep in touch. Forgive my ignorance but what is the pride of longbridge. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some 250,000 workers. 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.

Research, compare and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 34 murcielago models in independence. The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into. After the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned. Austin car factory longbridge birmingham stock photos. 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. Apr 08, 2015 it was the last of the big britishowned car plants. We originally set out back a few months ago to find the entrance to the longbridge tunnels. Dec 27, 2005 the rover task force says that 9,000 people at the company and its suppliers lost their jobs. 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. How longbridge defied the nazis to help britain win world war two.

These tunnels are filled with creepy car parts, deadly beams and plenty. The shadow factory tunnels under birminghams longbridge site are. Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. The longbridge tunnels, birmingham derelict places. Longbridge tour an account of a visit to the longbridge works in 1929. In 1989, a new longbridgebuilt model was launched, the second generation rover 200 the original version had been launched in 1984. The popular rural lickey hills country park is half a mile south of rednal, with rednal hill being the nearest peak. We go back to the community it left behind and see how it survived. The tunnels i entered sloped downwards at the entrace and then back up, the explanation given that the bomb blast would disipate its energy and not be able to roll uphill and injure the inmates. In 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. 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. Nov 10, 20 check out this derelict and disused tunnel network that used to be full of assembly workers years ago. Old mg rover site in birmingham begins to motor again.

North works was still carrying out machining parts for land rover along with the. Since the collapse of mg rover in 2005, part of the site has been. 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 a series of forgotten tunnels that are now only enjoyed by the odd urban explorer. 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. 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. Photos from birmingham photographic society private tour vehicle shoot. Longbridge underground tunnels birmingham history forum. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself.

Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the. Adrian ross is one of the few still left at longbridge, helping the new chinese owners with their plans. The tunnels under the south works were primarily intended as air raid shelters and were capable of holding 15,000 workers while the tunnels under the east works were primarily intended for manufacturing of. 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 rover 75 was available with frontwheel drive in either a saloon or estate body style and latterly, in longwheelbase form. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant. Over a period of some ninety years the name of the firm operating from the longbridge factory has changed many times. Sep 19, 20 after the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned. The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. Find rover tunnels under old longbridge plant stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection.

Sep 10, 2009 it becomes mg rover, reviving the famous british marque. Bbc news business the year when mg rover collapsed. Rover matures very early, holds well in the field, and produces fewer oval radishes under heat stress than other varieties. Sir john bourn, head of the national audit office, reported today on the support provided to mg rover by the department of trade and industry dti and other public bodies before and during the companys collapse in 2005, and on the effectiveness of plans to deal with and mitigate the consequences of the firms closure.