real time web analytics
Report - - Beeston Fuel Depot (Cheshire, Jun, 2019) | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Beeston Fuel Depot (Cheshire, Jun, 2019)

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
During WW2 a network of pipes and depots was built to transfer fuel between west coast ports and east coast airfields (GPSS). After the war some of this was mothballed but other parts continue to be used.
The Mersey was one of the main west coast ports, so there are a few of these old fuel depots local to me. I had a look at a couple about a year ago (Butter Hill and Carlett Park) but they weren’t very interesting since it wasn’t possible to get inside anything.
Recently I came across the Goostrey/Twemlow depot by accident, and this was much better so I thought I’d do another one a bit further south near Beeston Castle.

There’s one report on here https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/beeston-fuel-depot-tarporley-march-2017.107871/#post-1170998, and the only explicit history I can find for this depot comes from tigger’s comment on the report:
“Constructed 1940-41 by Regent Oil Co. Ltd for use as part of the GPSS system. C2 tanks (the same design as Goostrey/Twemlow though five of them are smaller capacity). The site was cleared of fuel before 1986 and then sold.”

The depot is beside the railway with a reclamation yard running alongside part of it.

48213922716_2e04f96b8f_b.jpg


Beeston Castle - I was wondering what these lumps in a field over by the railway were when up in the castle a while ago.

48213974197_8066230336_b.jpg


Capped pipes emerging into one of the yellow brick-lined sheds near the railway.

48213922331_d644f89e20_b.jpg


The larger tanks have had holes whacked in their sides…

48213973927_e94f15fc2f_b.jpg


…some have been completely demolished for scrap..

48213973852_57f17ffd8f_b.jpg



48213921731_69da63f049_b.jpg


…with one hole full of water.

48213973202_6cec323b9a_b.jpg


A local keeps a herd of deer here, and there are several ex-deer inside and outside the tanks in various states of decomposition.

48213921366_ab894741ee_b.jpg



48213972677_c2a02a26b2_b.jpg



48213972302_326a2b38e1_b.jpg



48213972272_888ef155e5_b.jpg


Some internals - the larger tanks are all similar.

48213971867_fbbb24184c_h.jpg



48213971827_687da13b55_b.jpg



48213920236_cec1946640_h.jpg



48213919931_66bae92a7f_b.jpg



48213970827_e36b3cfa1e_h.jpg



48213970612_f3671cfb7c_b.jpg


A smaller tank with a heat exchanger - the only one still dark inside.

48213970497_a87c34f302_b.jpg



48213970242_5767acf719_b.jpg



48213918846_e3fd6c1094_b.jpg


Another small tank.

48213969827_4df7ee4b1e_b.jpg



48213918346_5cfde8ec35_b.jpg



48213969242_c25e218da8_b.jpg



48213917906_e0220ad110_h.jpg


Not the most exciting of explores, but a pleasant way to spend a couple of hrs on a sunny day.
 

tigger

mog
Regular User
A view of it from the castle soon after Anthony started to remove metal

psdbeeston.jpg


...and just for fun, a couple of the pipeline markers for the N/S (N) pipeline (Backford to Lincomb) where it runs past PSD Beeston. First the aerial survey marker and then the boundary crossing and detail plate (note that each has a unique rererence number)

NS1.jpg


NS2.jpg


The depot was primarily for storage but had rail access for loading and discharge A small road gantry was used for discharge only.
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
A view of it from the castle soon after Anthony started to remove metal...

Thanks for the shot from the castle - mine was so poor I didn't include it.

Also for the markers - loads of these things for various pipelines if you wander on the wrong side of the fence in the Ellesmere Port/Manc Ship Canal areas - it had never occurred to me to look up what the various colours and markings might mean.
 

Ezza104

28DL Member
28DL Member
I used to strim the rapeseed for Richard reeves and can tell you one thing you are lucky he never seen you or he'd taken a shot at you with exploding. 22 bullets beleive me when I say he would not hesitate.. I used to work on the reclamation yard and there are air raid shelters dotted all over the site buried like. I found 2 when was moving bulk bags went into one and was just full of plastic of cables.... Going back onto this land the deer themselves are very very dangerous in rutting season I e had to run down that hill and jump well try jump fence when been charged at because a c130 spooked em flying that low felt like could touch it with the fecking Strimmer
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 314) View details

Top