Pine End Works, Lydney - September 2014
Crew: Tallrich, Ourtcloud, FIX1T, and a couple of non members.
Crew: Tallrich, Ourtcloud, FIX1T, and a couple of non members.
History
Pine End Works occupies a 14 acre site in Harbour Road, a couple of miles away from Lydney, next to the Severn Estuary. It was commisioned and constructed by the Government in 1940, and it was built to produce technical aircraft and marine plywood for wartime requirements. It was known as a “shadow factory”, meaning it was built in secrecy so as to keep manufacturing goods vital to the war effort, when factories in other, more vulnerable locations had been destroyed by bombing. To preserve secrecy it was known as “Factories Direction Ltd”, and it continued to be called this long after the war ended until it was taken over by two of the countries largest timber producers, William Mallison and Sons Ltd. and Gliksten Plywood Limited. It’s name was changed to “Mallison-Denny (Lydney) Limited” after a change of ownership.
During the war it was used to produce wooden aircraft panels for the Mosquito fighter-bomber and the Horsa assault gliders used in the D Day landings. In the 80s three inch thick rubber and grit surfaced plywood made at Pine End was used in a refubishment of Tower Bridge. It also supplied plywood to the Admiralty, the MoD, British Rail, vehicle manufacturers and boat builders. Something known as “Hydroboard” was produced at Pine End as well. It was a “chemically impregnated densified and compressed plywood” used in nuclear shielding in power stations.
Visit
Since Pine End Works is another local site to us we thought we'd have a go at something above ground for a change. After chatting to a few members about access we piled in the car and went down for a butchers, as we were told there is zero security on site and access was very easy although we got a few funny looks for dog walkers while we were getting through the gate.
The actual visit was amazing, even though the factory has pretty much been gutted since the last reports; all the machinery has been removed etc. the lighting was fabulous and there's still loads to see there which made it a very worthwhile mooch.
Pics (Tallrich & Ourtcloud)
One of the few exterior shots
Pretty sparse inside now
Lovely light though
Parts shelves
Panorama of the main floor
Safety Goggles
Lonely chair
More space
Nature beginning to take over
Ladies Bathroom
Stalactites
Awesome roof
Water damaged wall
Tracks... you sure we're not in a mine?
More stalactites
Three pictures in a picture!
My favourite room in the whole place
Overgrown stairway
I knew hiding Rich's new lens was a bad idea!
Ooh er
Loads more pics here
http://the-lockup.co.uk/pine-ends-factory-lydney-092014/
Pine End Works occupies a 14 acre site in Harbour Road, a couple of miles away from Lydney, next to the Severn Estuary. It was commisioned and constructed by the Government in 1940, and it was built to produce technical aircraft and marine plywood for wartime requirements. It was known as a “shadow factory”, meaning it was built in secrecy so as to keep manufacturing goods vital to the war effort, when factories in other, more vulnerable locations had been destroyed by bombing. To preserve secrecy it was known as “Factories Direction Ltd”, and it continued to be called this long after the war ended until it was taken over by two of the countries largest timber producers, William Mallison and Sons Ltd. and Gliksten Plywood Limited. It’s name was changed to “Mallison-Denny (Lydney) Limited” after a change of ownership.
During the war it was used to produce wooden aircraft panels for the Mosquito fighter-bomber and the Horsa assault gliders used in the D Day landings. In the 80s three inch thick rubber and grit surfaced plywood made at Pine End was used in a refubishment of Tower Bridge. It also supplied plywood to the Admiralty, the MoD, British Rail, vehicle manufacturers and boat builders. Something known as “Hydroboard” was produced at Pine End as well. It was a “chemically impregnated densified and compressed plywood” used in nuclear shielding in power stations.
Visit
Since Pine End Works is another local site to us we thought we'd have a go at something above ground for a change. After chatting to a few members about access we piled in the car and went down for a butchers, as we were told there is zero security on site and access was very easy although we got a few funny looks for dog walkers while we were getting through the gate.
The actual visit was amazing, even though the factory has pretty much been gutted since the last reports; all the machinery has been removed etc. the lighting was fabulous and there's still loads to see there which made it a very worthwhile mooch.
Pics (Tallrich & Ourtcloud)
One of the few exterior shots
Pretty sparse inside now
Lovely light though
Parts shelves
Panorama of the main floor
Safety Goggles
Lonely chair
More space
Nature beginning to take over
Ladies Bathroom
Stalactites
Awesome roof
Water damaged wall
Tracks... you sure we're not in a mine?
More stalactites
Three pictures in a picture!
My favourite room in the whole place
Overgrown stairway
I knew hiding Rich's new lens was a bad idea!
Ooh er
Loads more pics here
http://the-lockup.co.uk/pine-ends-factory-lydney-092014/
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