An aircraft factory, built in 1940 at Old Mixon as a "shadow" factory complementing the then RAF Weston Super Mare, where test flights of the new aircraft were carried out. The factory was sited just outside the western boundary of the airfield. During World War Two it produced Bristol Beaufighter fixed wing aircraft for the war effort. By early 1944 the factory produced 87 beaufighter Mark Xs a month. From 1955 it was a centre of production for Bristol helicopters, later in 1960 taken over by Westland Helicopters. The factory is now part of an industrial estate
Short history -
May 1940 the site at Oldmixon was decided to be developed as a shadow factory for aircraft production. Aircraft production ceased Jan 1946. 1945-1948 the site then manufactured aluminium bungalows for the temporary housing programme.
Jan 1965 the Oldmixon facility became the Helicopter Division of Bristol Aircraft Ltd. 1959 Westland Aircraft Ltd took over all UK helicopter manufacture. Oldmixon became the Product Support Manufacturing centre.
Re-organisation 1987 the manufacturing element became Westland Industrial Products Ltd. The aerodrome and northern part of the factory were sold for property development
The explore
After 6 failed explores this was our first successful one of the day a random drive by find so we decided to take a look
While my husband and @Webbs0710 waited at the cars I headed into the site to see if there was any access to the building
There wasn't any way to the upper floor but I eventually found a way inside the ground and signaled to the others to join
It was rather trashed inside and full of bird crap but after a day of failures we were just happy to finally get a win
Who doesn't love an old phone
You can smell the picture 😂
Despite the bird crap there were a few interesting bits inside
You can't even get a freddo for that anymore lol
Nice old dial
Was quite a few old car parts laying around
We then headed back outside and to the boiler room
Once we finished we decided to walk around part of the estate to look at the remaining buildings now being used by various businesses we did find another boarded up building unfortunately there wasn't any access to it
Thanks for looking
Short history -
May 1940 the site at Oldmixon was decided to be developed as a shadow factory for aircraft production. Aircraft production ceased Jan 1946. 1945-1948 the site then manufactured aluminium bungalows for the temporary housing programme.
Jan 1965 the Oldmixon facility became the Helicopter Division of Bristol Aircraft Ltd. 1959 Westland Aircraft Ltd took over all UK helicopter manufacture. Oldmixon became the Product Support Manufacturing centre.
Re-organisation 1987 the manufacturing element became Westland Industrial Products Ltd. The aerodrome and northern part of the factory were sold for property development
The explore
After 6 failed explores this was our first successful one of the day a random drive by find so we decided to take a look
While my husband and @Webbs0710 waited at the cars I headed into the site to see if there was any access to the building
There wasn't any way to the upper floor but I eventually found a way inside the ground and signaled to the others to join
It was rather trashed inside and full of bird crap but after a day of failures we were just happy to finally get a win
Who doesn't love an old phone
You can smell the picture 😂
Despite the bird crap there were a few interesting bits inside
You can't even get a freddo for that anymore lol
Nice old dial
Was quite a few old car parts laying around
We then headed back outside and to the boiler room
Once we finished we decided to walk around part of the estate to look at the remaining buildings now being used by various businesses we did find another boarded up building unfortunately there wasn't any access to it
Thanks for looking
