Visited with Bryn Kearsey and a non-member.
Despite several reports already being uploaded for this site, the last one being from September 2014, I feel as though, because of how much I love this place, I had to join in and do a write-up myself.
History:
Now for some photos:
Exteriors:
Interiors:
We ended up finding this old phonebook which dated back to 1987. Eventually found one or two of my relatives in there, which was interesting!
We also found the office filled with documents, some of which dating back to the 1950s, however it seemed slightly emptier than what it was like last time we were there. This here, in fact, is one of a few collector's books that can be found around this particular office among hundreds of other bits of paperwork.
Finally, upon leaving the site we came across another warehouse that, I do not believe, has been featured on 28DL before. It was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of wooden products that had never been sold before the place closed in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, we didn't really get any photos of the space worth sharing, however it might be a reason to go back and get a few more snaps!
Despite several reports already being uploaded for this site, the last one being from September 2014, I feel as though, because of how much I love this place, I had to join in and do a write-up myself.
History:
"Pine End Works had been in operation for more than 60 years, up until the site's closure in the early 2000s. Occupying a 14-acre site it was built by the government in 1940 to manufacture technical aircraft and marine plywood for wartime requirements. Parts for the De Havilland Mosquito and the Horsa glider (used in large numbers for Operation Overlord, Market Garden etc.) were built here. The plant became part of the national network of "shadow factories" designed to carry on the war effort when installations in more vulnerable locations were destroyed by enemy action. To preserve secrecy the new factory was misleadingly designated "Factories Direction Ltd.", a name which persisted long after the end of the war by which time the plant had been taken on by two of the countries largest timber groups, William Mallison and Sons Ltd. and Gliksten Plywood Limited. A later reorganisation resulted in the name being changed to "Mallison-Denny (Lydney) Limited" in the 1980s. By the time of its closure, the factory was more commonly known as 'Lydney Products' after a few changes in the management."
Now for some photos:
Exteriors:
Interiors:
We ended up finding this old phonebook which dated back to 1987. Eventually found one or two of my relatives in there, which was interesting!
We also found the office filled with documents, some of which dating back to the 1950s, however it seemed slightly emptier than what it was like last time we were there. This here, in fact, is one of a few collector's books that can be found around this particular office among hundreds of other bits of paperwork.
Along with that, we found a record of the 1931 census in the reception area, which was well worth a mooch in itself.
I recently found this photo of my Great-Grandad, as well, during his time at Pine End Works in the early 1960s. After visiting the place a number of times before, I recognised where it was taken and decided to try and match it up with its current scene.
Finally, upon leaving the site we came across another warehouse that, I do not believe, has been featured on 28DL before. It was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of wooden products that had never been sold before the place closed in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, we didn't really get any photos of the space worth sharing, however it might be a reason to go back and get a few more snaps!
Thanks for looking!
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