The mr provided workmens trains from birmingham new street to longbridge which also ran mondaytofriday. His father, a farmer, was giles stevens austin and his mother was clara jane simpson. In fact, the sides of a tunnel book might make you think of an accordion. It was great at protecting the crops from pests, frost, and yielding large quantities of food for my family. Longbridge plant birmingham, united kingdom landmark. Sep 27, 2016 a huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. The shadow factory tunnels are what remain of lord austins secret. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are. In the past, you needed to head to the library or the bookstore to browse through physical books on the shelves to find a new adventure to check out or buy with todays modern technology, though, your next great read is just a few clicks away. For years we have heard talk of turning the abandoned railroad tracks of the reading viaduct north of center city into park space that would showcase philadelphias rich industrial past.
Longbridge tunnel mini goes to auction honest john. The final mini to leave the longbridge factory sells for. The story of longbridge is full of tragedy and the loss of car making there has dealt a huge blow to the midlands manufacturing base. 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. Less than a year off its century, the factory closed and 6,000 lost their jobs.
Reminds me of a recent top gear episode where they went to the old tvr plant in. The story follows will burrows, a 14yearold archaeologist, who stumbles upon an underground civilization called the colony. Why on earth would an exemployee want to go back to see the factory they may have spent their careers working in and possibly those of their fathers too, reduced to either rubble or toytown industrial units shops oh yeah, we need more and ickle stupid flats. Below ground was an underground labyrinth of tunnels covering over three miles. 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. Car factory frozen in time with vehicle shells still on conveyor belts 11 years after mg rover collapsed. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels.
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. I heard that it was going to have been made into a movie at one point, but was really disappointed when it got canceled, however, this is a book that one must read. 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. Longbridge underground tunnels in 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction.
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. Feb 26, 2017 dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. Longbridge plant news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2015 learn. 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.
Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham, uk. 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. The longbridge tunnels, birmingham derelict places. The bodies of two female students are found mutilated and oddly positioned in the dark labyrinth beneath the schoolhaunting symbols painted on the walls above them. Inside the eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers daily mail. 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 car, which has an interesting history goes to auction, and its. High tunnels are simple to grow in, and they make gardening easier. The longbridge plant is an industrial site situated in the longbridge area of birmingham, england.
Longbridge is in close proximity to and can be viewed from the lickey hills. It was initially selfpublished as the highfield mole in 2005, and rereleased as tunnels by chicken house in 2007. 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. 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. This venture proved to be unsuccessful and the longbridge factory closed down in about 1901. In her decade tracking serial killers, fbi special agent kelly jones has seen some of the worst humanity can inflict.
By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world. With the outbreak of the second world war the austin plant resumed production of armaments and employee numbers once again grew. Herbert austin was born on 8th november 1866 at 3, mill cottages little missenden, buckinghamshire, england. The shadow factory tunnels under birminghams longbridge site are the remnants of lord austins secret plans that were hatched to bolster. For ninetynine years, cars were made at longbridge. By march 1940 tunnels were also constructed to link to other parts of the. Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines. A huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. 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 story is a few years old at this point, but check it out here on, which starts up following its rescue and eventual auction. The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant. Opened in 1905, longbridge was once the largest manufacturing plant in the world. Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car plant. Thanks to tablet computers and smartphones, combined with ebook technology, you can browse for new. 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. A thrilling cold war narrative of superpower showdowns, media suppression, and two escape tunnels beneath the berlin wall in the summer of 1962, the year after the rise of the berlin wall, a group of young west germans risked prison, stasi torture, and even death to liberate friends, lovers, and strangers in east berlin by digging tunnels under the wall. Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat. Yet the tragedy unfolding at her alma mater chills her to the.
Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author. Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat. I drive past what was the longbridge plant last week its all but disappeared. In 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction. Tunnels is a subterranean fiction novel by british authors roderick gordon and brian williams. Apr 08, 2015 ten years ago mass production at longbridge car plant came to an end after more than a century. The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. 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 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. I grew crops in a high tunnel for almost four years before moving to our new, larger farm. Our mission is to celebrate the creative energy of our region by connecting readers to new and experimental work from local writers, poets, and artists.
Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. 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 plant empty. My fatherinlaw worked at the longbridge factory, in the west works and he used to say there were engines and complete cars in the tunnels. Everybody out longbridge finally grinds to a halt autocar.
Perhaps this work tailed off so they then decided to go into tin printing. The shadow factory tunnels under birminghams longbridge site are the. Sep 27, 2016 the car factory where time has stalled. What plans are there in place to protect the line for a planned reopening to rubery. Tunnels including the whole series is another incredibly wellwritten and plotted series for its age group and genre. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. The mini clubman so famously rescued from the longbridge tunnels in 2012 fell short of impressing at auction. Eerie images have revealed the abandoned remains of an underground factory in birmingham where engines that powered the spitfire planes. For four years the factory lay empty and on the books of e a olivieri, a birmingham financier at a price of. Longbridge underground tunnels east works about time i shared theseaaaaaprobably the most interesting site iave ever visited to document. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. 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. Photos of mg rover longbridge plant in 2007 page 1.
During the 20th century the site employed many thousands of people, central to the economy of the local area. Synopsis for ninetynine years, cars were made at longbridge. The plant and tunnels was used during ww2 to build plane engines. The government yesterday made it clear that bmw would be offered aid from the taxpayer to keep rovers giant longbridge plant. Archive photographs chart the transition from boom to bust. 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. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels atlas. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. But since the collapse of mg rover, part of the site was redeveloped for housing and commercial purposes. Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines and associated components were assembled during ww2. The domesday book mentions a mill at the site, which must. Longbridge tunnel mini introduce yourself the mini forum. Dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years.
Longbridge plant simple english wikipedia, the free. Book marks 110 years since herbert austin launched his motoring empire. 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. 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. Final longbridge factory mini sold at auction bbc news. Jan 01, 2020 the longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt.
Whether through art, poetry, or fiction, they publish work from the pittsburgh region to share with the world. Haunting photographs reveal how the famous longbridge mg rover plant has lain untouched and abandoned since it closed more than a decade ago. The last i heard most of the exchange sidings at the longbridge plant were lifted last year. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge, birmingham, england. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy. The longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt heads to auction. The overall effect of a tunnel book is to create the illusion of depth and perspective. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some 250,000 workers. Just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham. These tunnels are filled with creepy car parts, deadly beams and plenty. 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.
This short article about the united kingdom can be made longer. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. Nov 15, 2012 the crime scenes are both grim and otherworldly. What started as wishful thinking, developing both the underground city branch and the elevated viaduct, has become more hopeful with funding from foundations and organizations. Longbridge plant is an automobile plant in longbridge, birmingham, west midlands, england. Car factory frozen in time with vehicle shells still on.
1171 1385 951 95 843 1448 399 1097 1444 1036 1339 1412 626 1128 354 1582 370 1173 1191 276 1591 963 360 504 949 866 296 779 1045 127 363 888 1193 1093 381 90 692 1137 14 832 1343 191 326