Ever since High Voltage read in the paper that the Cobham Industrial site in Wimborne had been sold, we were stalking the site. Patience was required as although the site was sold January 2011, Cobhams Plc were still using the site for manufacturing and because of their work the site is protected by the MOD secrets act with high level security. Thus, for the past 12 months we have driven by and endlessly walked around the fence waiting to get in. Now Cobhams have left the site and demolition is imminent. The site is a big one for us in the South, 11.5acres and these pictures were the result of a few morning explores. Although it was a good place to visit, it had been stripped out so little evidence remained of what went on there, however we did get the opportunity to visit our first laboratories and some 70’s relics of computers remain!
A brief overview – Cobham Plc is involved in Mission Systems, Defence Systems, Avionics and Surveillance, and Aviation Services. Cobham was founded as Flight Refuelling Limited by Sir Alan Cobham in 1934. One of the main innovations of the company was the 'probe and drogue' method of air to air refuelling. The company was originally based at another local site of Tarrant Rushton, however the manufacturing and testing moved to the Wimborne site in the 1970s. The company continued to expand, with the Wimborne site being the main manufacturing location for the company, and as a result in 2011 a new factory/research centre was built for the company opposite the now closed site. The new Cobhams building is famous for not having any windows in its “secrets†building!
This picture shows the site alongside the river.
Just to give you the size of the place, but these pictures do not do it justice!
Inside the main manufacturing area:
There were quite a few of these boxes lying around...
We were impressed by the door, they didn’t want anyone getting into the server room!
There were loads of empty office areas
But even in the blandness we found some things of interest...
But just when we thought for all our efforts the explore wasn’t living upto expectations, we found the laboratories!
There were loads more workshop areas, offices and a canteen but not really worth putting up here.
Always Ready! Thanks for looking.
A brief overview – Cobham Plc is involved in Mission Systems, Defence Systems, Avionics and Surveillance, and Aviation Services. Cobham was founded as Flight Refuelling Limited by Sir Alan Cobham in 1934. One of the main innovations of the company was the 'probe and drogue' method of air to air refuelling. The company was originally based at another local site of Tarrant Rushton, however the manufacturing and testing moved to the Wimborne site in the 1970s. The company continued to expand, with the Wimborne site being the main manufacturing location for the company, and as a result in 2011 a new factory/research centre was built for the company opposite the now closed site. The new Cobhams building is famous for not having any windows in its “secrets†building!
This picture shows the site alongside the river.
Just to give you the size of the place, but these pictures do not do it justice!
Inside the main manufacturing area:
There were quite a few of these boxes lying around...
We were impressed by the door, they didn’t want anyone getting into the server room!
There were loads of empty office areas
But even in the blandness we found some things of interest...
But just when we thought for all our efforts the explore wasn’t living upto expectations, we found the laboratories!
There were loads more workshop areas, offices and a canteen but not really worth putting up here.
Always Ready! Thanks for looking.
