Longbridge was commissioned for an underground factory, which was built underneath groveley lane, where aircraft engines. 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. Building a vibrant new community to inspire the next generation. The austin factory at longbridge in june from english heritage book. How longbridge defied the nazis to help britain win world war two.
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. 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. 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. This short article about the united kingdom can be made longer. Tunnels is a subterranean fiction novel by british authors roderick gordon and brian williams. The longbridge tunnel mini clubman 1275gt heads to auction. By the late 1960s, the longbridge plant was the second largest car plant in the world, employing some. It was great at protecting the crops from pests, frost, and yielding large quantities of food for my family.
Eerie images have revealed the abandoned remains of an underground factory in birmingham where engines that powered the spitfire planes. The government yesterday made it clear that bmw would be offered aid from the taxpayer to keep rovers giant longbridge plant. The giant plant is being recreated as a town of 2000 homes and it is hoped 0 jobs. South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works. With unfinished cars left to rust on the production line, these eerie photographs show how the longbridge plant in birmingham has been left.
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. After the war, the factory returned to producing automobiles and the tunnels were abandoned. 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. The eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers where. 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. 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. Whether through art, poetry, or fiction, they publish work from the pittsburgh region to share with the world. The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. Last september, mg motor uk delivered a final blow to the former mg rover plant at longbridge, birmingham. Escapes under the berlin wall and the historic films the jfk white house tried to kill mitchell, greg on. Longbridge tunnels, birmingham aug 20 derelict places. In 1994 bmw bought rover and the longbridge plant passed into bmws hands.
The tunnels which ran beneath austin rovers longbridge plant are mostly all that is left of the plant. Synopsis for ninetynine years, cars were made at longbridge. The mr provided workmens trains from birmingham new street to longbridge which also ran mondaytofriday. Families, businesses, students longbridge birmingham is a place with a proud heritage and an exciting future for us all. 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. Longbridge station 2799 route 30 w, ligonier, pennsylvania 15658 rated 4.
Longbridge tunnel mini introduce yourself the mini forum. Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author. At the time, many financial commentators claimed that the plant was not modern enough and it would surely run out of money in a few years. 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. Introduction 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 underground tunnels in 1936, and aswel as the shadow factories that existed, an extensive network of tunnels began construction.
Tunnel rats, as american soldiers who worked in the cu chi tunnels during the vietnam war were known, used the evocative term black echo to describe the experience of being in the tunnels. These tunnels ensured that production of the engines and munitions could continue underground in relative safety. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. 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. These abandoned mg rover tunnels at the longbridge plant are crazy. Everybody out longbridge finally grinds to a halt autocar. Longbridge plant is an automobile plant in longbridge, birmingham, west midlands, england. Longbridge east works site to be converted into 700 new. 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. 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. High tunnels are simple to grow in, and they make gardening easier. The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main. Inside the eerie factory tunnels safe from german bombers daily mail.
Report the longbridge tunnels, birmingham november. Clubman in the longbridge tunnels page 2 mini chat. It was initially selfpublished as the highfield mole in 2005, and rereleased as tunnels by chicken house in 2007. With the outbreak of the second world war the austin plant resumed production of armaments and employee numbers once again grew. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels. Entrance to the longbridge tunnels all photographs by the author just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham, uk. What plans are there in place to protect the line for a planned reopening to rubery. Even if you dont like science fiction you might still enjoy this book. I grew crops in a high tunnel for almost four years before moving to our new, larger farm. The last i heard most of the exchange sidings at the longbridge plant were lifted last year. New jersey, one of the most exploited tropes in american popular culture, would seem to present an uneasy subject for a contemporary poet, even if it is his birthright. His father, a farmer, was giles stevens austin and his mother was clara jane simpson. After 14 years in the plant, he has imbibed local pride as much as anyone. The tunnels today are now locked and are not accessible to the public.
Thanks to tablet computers and smartphones, combined with ebook technology, you can browse for new. Blackout below birmingham in the abandoned wwii tunnels atlas. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. Just below the surface of longbridge, an area just outside of birmingham. These tunnels are filled with creepy car parts, deadly beams and plenty. T he battered bodyshell of the mini clubman 1275 gt lay in the tunnels under the factory for more than 30 years the. Dare to enter a set of tunnels that have been abandoned for over 50 years. 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.
Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. Page 2 of 3 clubman in the longbridge tunnels posted in mini chat. Longbridge plant birmingham, united kingdom landmark. Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car plant. Longbridge car plant back in action uk news express. 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. Haunting photographs reveal how the famous longbridge mg rover plant has lain untouched and abandoned since it closed more than a decade ago. 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. Less than a year off its century, the factory closed and 6,000 lost their jobs. The station and all trains calling there are operated by west midlands trains.
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. I suppose with the plant eventually closing, any sense of nostalgia was quickly lost given the car was either destined for a dealership for an executive to use after its test miles were logged on plant grounds. 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. New life for longbridge transformation of iconic factory into youth space. A huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. Interestingly, some mini enthusiasts opposed the removal, feeling the car belonged to the plant and should be buried with the tunnel. The plant and tunnels was used during ww2 to build plane engines. The story follows will burrows, a 14yearold archaeologist, who stumbles upon an underground civilization called the colony. 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. 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. Longbridge plant news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2015 learn. Herbert austin was born on 8th november 1866 at 3, mill cottages little missenden, buckinghamshire, england. Most of the longbridge site is currently being redeveloped, the remaining buildings still standing are owned by the.
Images include rooftop shots, inside the factory and offices and in some of the underground tunnels under the plant. Archive photographs chart the transition from boom to bust. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge. It is science fiction, but a different type of science fiction. Ten years ago mass production at longbridge car plant came to an end after more than a century. Longbridge railway station serves the longbridge area in the southwest of birmingham, england. Longbridge is in close proximity to and can be viewed from the lickey hills.
Please dont comment about tunnel access your comments will be deleted tunnels are now sealed and houses built on its location. Longbridge plant simple english wikipedia, the free. Page 1 of 31 longbridge tunnel mini posted in introduce yourself. Again, credit to all those who have managed to gain access to any of the networks underneath longbridge prior to this visit. Production of mgs, marketed here and across the world against the britishness of the brand, had finally ceased within the historic plant.