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View Full Version : Archived Report - Spring Quarry, Corsham, December 09

rigsby
January 13th, 2010, 01:10
We could not believe our luck when we stumbled upon access to this. It was like jumping into a time capsule, The old chocolate machines on
the walls, Old generator and giant fans and butterfly anti gas doors. All the things i had wanted to see for years and i can tell you it
did not disappoint. It was just like the few MOD issued photos i had seen.
We walked for hours all the way to the east side of the quarry to the workers canteen to see some of the murals on the walls. On the way we
found old slopeshafts and lifts, Toilets and brick built air ways the size of a large sewer. We then walked south west up to the power egg
shop where we found a old generator and some old yellow ride on trucks. By this time it was the early hours and time for us to leave.
A few days later i went to go back only to find the access had been closed up. I wish i got the chance to see more but im glad i got
see what i did.

A bit of history.

Spring Quarry is a large stone quarry that was converted by the Ministry of Aircraft production in WWII,
the quarry was home to the largest underground factory in the world. The underground aircraft factory
within Spring Quarry housed the Bristol Aerospace Company and a BSA's gun barrel factory in the west of the quarry.
The vast caverns had some 2,250,000ftsq of space some smaller chambers were divided for
different companies operating underground.

The advent of aerial warfare during the First World War brought with it the increasing demand for the mass production of fighters and
bombers of standard design. By 1942,
it was decided to locate the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s development works and the manufacturing of Centaurus engines below-ground at
Spring Quarry, as well as the manufacture of undercarriages, gun barrels and turrets. The lifespan of the works was short-lived,
and production ceased in 1945. Today, evidence of the works survives particularly the lifts and escalators used to transport the workers,
and the large canteens containing striking murals by Olga Lehmann.

The factory closed in 1945 after the Second World leaving a bill of over £20,000,000 after having very little use.

Spring Quarry was then used by the Ministry of Supplies who used most of the site for Royal Navy stores until the early 90s.
The northern area of Spring Quarry was chosen as the wartime seat of power in case of nuclear war,
known as the Hawthorn Central Government War Headquarters.
Hawthorn was later known as 'Burlington' and 'Site 3'.

On with the photos.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9458/dsc0111kv.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5599/dsc0102h.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4618/dsc0100fd.jpg

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http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3033/dsc0092k.jpg

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/285/dsc0088t.jpg

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http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7726/dsc0077z.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9581/dsc0076ne.jpg

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http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5656/dsc0069f.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9154/dsc0066w.jpg

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1398/dsc0065n.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2209/dsc0062rf.jpg

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/3081/dsc0061h.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/7469/dsc0060w.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/5251/dsc0059uu.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4320/dsc0057hj.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/6427/dsc0054s.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8075/dsc0053mf.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5010/dsc0052k.jpg

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http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5418/dsc0049lo.jpg
diehardlove
January 13th, 2010, 01:37
this is crackers well done mate,some nice pics there
goan
January 13th, 2010, 01:42
Its nice to see somewhere with out the traditional graffiti or the "Alias is a cunt" scrawled in dust. Awesome explore
Speed
January 13th, 2010, 05:22
RARRR been waiting to see these!

These are probably the best underground reports we have ever had! so pissed it got fucked up before i had a go!
Shadow
January 13th, 2010, 09:00
Jesus fucking christ! DO WANT!!!!! Looks amazing :eek: Still do-able? If so... I'm getting in the car now :p
rigsby
January 13th, 2010, 09:18
Thanks guys. We had a small window of opportunitie and like i said at the top of the page when i went to go back for another look it was sealed up.
Shadow
January 13th, 2010, 09:28
Awwh, gutted :( Great that you got the photos though :D
tommo
January 13th, 2010, 09:38
Any hole's a goal, specially a spring hole ! Nice to see some more pics of the place that not many have been,
Montstar
January 13th, 2010, 09:42
What an awesome opportunity dude!! Well done that man! Some really nice pics as well! :thumb
spungletrumpet
January 13th, 2010, 11:46
More great pics. :)
captainwow
January 13th, 2010, 12:28
Awesome!! I think I'd use the term "jammy" and "git!" Nice pics too :)
pauln
January 13th, 2010, 20:33
Lucky, lucky sod. I've been on one side of that wall but sadly not the side I wanted to be.
Raddog
January 13th, 2010, 20:59
Awesome stuff, murals and vintage vending machines especially :D
rigsby
January 13th, 2010, 22:07
Awesome stuff, murals and vintage vending machines especially :D

Yes mate i love the vending machines too.
urbanity
January 13th, 2010, 22:12
These reports are off the hook brilliant - pictures are fantastic mate. Maybe another day will come?
Arnold
January 14th, 2010, 00:37
After researching this, I have to say I am so jealous! That's gotta be one of the best explores I have ever seen! Congratulations on that you lucky people :thumb
Edd
January 14th, 2010, 17:30
WOW been wanting to go in there for years. Looks amazing :) Good on ya :thumb

Just wondering what you saw down there that needed the tag of "tits" lol I think you may be holding out on the pictures :p
rigsby
January 14th, 2010, 17:54
Thanks guys.

These reports are off the hook brilliant - pictures are fantastic mate. Maybe another day will come?

I hope so too mate.
urbanity
January 14th, 2010, 18:02
In the meantime 'tits' is an appropriate tag!
call me "Smith"
January 15th, 2010, 12:17
Stunning pics !
Am so jealous you guys were able to get in.
The Ancient Mariner
January 15th, 2010, 12:50
Words fail me... Excellent stuff guys...
Miner
January 15th, 2010, 16:03
This has not been explored anywhere near enough!

Check this out... http://www.burlingtonbunker.co.uk/photos/
rookinella
January 15th, 2010, 18:01
This has not been explored anywhere near enough!

Check this out... http://www.burlingtonbunker.co.uk/photos/

Yeah we just decided to stop before we got to the epicness :crazy

There's a reason it's not plastered all over the net:)
Miner
January 15th, 2010, 19:01
anybody else down there then? :popcorn

Yeah we just decided to stop before we got to the epicness :crazy

There's a reason it's not plastered all over the net:)
spungletrumpet
January 15th, 2010, 20:43
anybody else down there then? :popcorn

Mostly provosts at the moment..
rigsby
January 16th, 2010, 10:40
We also found this down there .
http://science.kukuchew.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ancient-alien-picture.jpg
Not sure what it is?
nikkisixx
January 18th, 2010, 07:26
We also found this down there .
http://science.kukuchew.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ancient-alien-picture.jpg
Not sure what it is?


OMG, it's my ex wife!!!! :thumb
willbaroo
January 23rd, 2010, 23:04
I did Burlington about a year ago!

Clicky Linky (http://will-belcher.co.uk/index.php?mact=Album,m3,default,1&m3albumid=22&m3returnid=54&page=54)
Jon P
January 24th, 2010, 20:31
Well done its finally been cracked!
The Stig
January 27th, 2010, 20:05
Heres the fun and games with the 58cc extra300 deep underground-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmmnlgKUP1c
urbanity
January 27th, 2010, 20:57
Video evidence and NMA sound track + stunt flying = Burlington well and truly owned!

One day perhaps the dust will settle (in more ways than one ;) )
rigsby
January 27th, 2010, 21:05
Heres the fun and games with the 58cc extra300 deep underground-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmmnlgKUP1c

:Not Worthy :Not Worthy:Not Worthy
pauln
January 27th, 2010, 21:41
Heres the fun and games with the 58cc extra300 deep underground-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmmnlgKUP1c

Well there's something you don't see everyday. Those CCTV cameras are certainly F*** all use by the look of it.

Nice job BTW Mr Stig!
Oxygen Thief
January 27th, 2010, 22:09
Well there's something you don't see everyday. Those CCTV cameras are certainly F*** all use by the look of it.

Nice job BTW Mr Stig!

My thoughts exactly :thumb
Jon P
January 27th, 2010, 22:31
did you not play on the electric carts or were they all flat?
spungletrumpet
January 28th, 2010, 03:26
Still can't believe it! :thumb
The Ancient Mariner
January 28th, 2010, 09:43
Cracking footage...:thumb :Not Worthy
rigsby
January 29th, 2010, 17:26
I have just found this on youtube. It's a tour of Spring Quarry. It's a bit slow going but in part 4 you get to see some construction photos and a interview with ex construction worker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WOtZLcOlL4&feature=channel

This is also well worth a watch lots of history about the murals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENsf4J0xgPU

And a short BBC Burlington film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-bYGlijhIU&feature=related
Oldskool
January 29th, 2010, 22:01
top place good flics ...i need to go .....
The_toad
February 5th, 2010, 21:59
nice pics guys,did you get into burlington through the double iron doors, i have some pics cant upload though.