Archived Report - MG Rover Longbridge, factory and air raid shelters

[dweeb]

Welcome back to Longbridge!! After a lead that part of site was being demolished myself and Raddog jumped at the chance of a return visit. Once inside we headed through the records room, with it's miles of filing cabinets and into the heart of the old west works. This is the older part of the site which was originally the Austin factory. Many many great motor cars have been produced under this roof...

Followed the car track to the bridge made famous by the first batch of Rover pics... now sadly stripped of the car shells. The west works has a cracking old feel to it, and many very old features. The toilets of all things are out of this world!

[dweeb]

We made our way from the west works to the newer body assembly building. In here the offices are pretty much as left. Hardwood desks sit surrounded by Rover branded chairs. The assembly plant itself is completley stripped bare. Note the wartime camoflage in the sixth picture!!

[dweeb]

Now all my life I have heard rumours about vast tunnels underground at Longbridge... believe me they are not roumours!! The air raid shelter is huge. The pics dont show it's size as we did not have search blaster!! Down there is a filing cabinet filled with 1970's and 80's brochures for Rovers, mini's, Metro's and Land Rovers!! Also crash test dummy limbs and even some of the original wooden seating, supported by steel chains!! It really was fantastic to finally see it!!