After a bit of a break for exploring during the most recent round of lockdowns, it was lovely to finally get out again. This old GPSS depot was a great local discovery that really re-lit my interest!
History
On the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border in Saxons lode is one of the many former oil storage depots which formed part of the GPSS oil line. A secret network of oil/fuel pipes and depots that supplied airfields across the country during the war. Many parts of the GPSS line were sold off, privatised or decommissioned from the 1990s.
GPSS Upton was one of the many decommissioned sites which has only recently been sold off by the MOD in 2019. The site consists of 3 main parts: South, North East, and North West consisting of 10.59 hectares.
The main site in the South consists of several buildings that resemble a farm house and farm outbuildings, but actually operated as administrative buildings and storage for the oil facility. There are 6 small storage mounds with an underground pump room connecting them. There is also a small ‘T’ shaped bunker to the rear of the site.
The North West site seemed to operate as a larger oil storage depot with direct supply to and from boats on the River Severn.
The North East side has very few surface features and is where the 'Live' GPSS pipe is still connected to.
I didn’t visit this part in the end, although you can see the outline of 5 large square underground tanks from satellite images.
The site currently sits in limbo, work has started to decontaminate and clean the depot by the new owner, but has seemed to have paused for a while. These Ex-GPSS oil depots are expensive and difficult to convert to alternative uses. Despite this the new owner Peter Styles, local property developer & pub owner, has planning permission to turn the South site into 4 dwellings with parking.
Issues with soil and asbestos contamination remain as an issue to be dealt with, but the site could well become 4 new homes soon.
I wonder if they will keep the underground rooms....
The Explore
This was a mystery site with not much information on, but seems I lucked out with timing as it's no longer MOD owned, but hit a slight pause on development by the new owner.
After my first visit, I returned with my big wellies to get some shots in the flooded bunkers. It was then I realised there was 2 entirely separate sites, the ones to the North west being surprisingly large. The major disappointment being the massive pump room on the North East site being dangerously flooded. Sadly I forgot to pack my Scuba gear. Would have been awesome to see the inside of that!
I didn't bother with the North East side as it had barely anything worth seeing, plus it was getting dark.
This was a really great return to some exploring. I love old military infrastructure, so this one really interested me.
Photos
The 3 Sites.
The Southern Site
This rather large fence surrounds the site, as well as plastic containment to keep soil contamination contained.
This building styled like a farm cottage seemed to be the main administration building for the site. It was in the process of being tidied up and redecorated.
The 3 outbuildings at the front of the site.
The buildings at the rear of the site
The pump room
The small T shaped bunker.
Looks like they are preparing to carry out the work on this site.
The North West Site
Stood on-top you wouldn't guess that there was a massive storage tanker under your feet
Another little hut here for future work on the site.
Walking down towards the river side you can see the mooring posts at the edge of the river, which give some indication of the large size of the tanker barges that supplied this depot.
There were several accidents involving these barges. The railway bridge over the Severn near Sharpness and the original Haw Bridge were both destroyed in collisions with vessels used for the transport of petroleum products.
The rear of the pump room entrance.
That's a nope from me....
Must be easily 30ft down.
Would be awesome to see inside here, but will need a lot of pumping out!
One of the Access tunnels to the main tanks.
Goes back about 20 metres until the pipe connects to the tank.
Thanks for reading!
History
On the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border in Saxons lode is one of the many former oil storage depots which formed part of the GPSS oil line. A secret network of oil/fuel pipes and depots that supplied airfields across the country during the war. Many parts of the GPSS line were sold off, privatised or decommissioned from the 1990s.
GPSS Upton was one of the many decommissioned sites which has only recently been sold off by the MOD in 2019. The site consists of 3 main parts: South, North East, and North West consisting of 10.59 hectares.
The main site in the South consists of several buildings that resemble a farm house and farm outbuildings, but actually operated as administrative buildings and storage for the oil facility. There are 6 small storage mounds with an underground pump room connecting them. There is also a small ‘T’ shaped bunker to the rear of the site.
The North West site seemed to operate as a larger oil storage depot with direct supply to and from boats on the River Severn.
The North East side has very few surface features and is where the 'Live' GPSS pipe is still connected to.
I didn’t visit this part in the end, although you can see the outline of 5 large square underground tanks from satellite images.
The site currently sits in limbo, work has started to decontaminate and clean the depot by the new owner, but has seemed to have paused for a while. These Ex-GPSS oil depots are expensive and difficult to convert to alternative uses. Despite this the new owner Peter Styles, local property developer & pub owner, has planning permission to turn the South site into 4 dwellings with parking.
Issues with soil and asbestos contamination remain as an issue to be dealt with, but the site could well become 4 new homes soon.
I wonder if they will keep the underground rooms....
The Explore
This was a mystery site with not much information on, but seems I lucked out with timing as it's no longer MOD owned, but hit a slight pause on development by the new owner.
After my first visit, I returned with my big wellies to get some shots in the flooded bunkers. It was then I realised there was 2 entirely separate sites, the ones to the North west being surprisingly large. The major disappointment being the massive pump room on the North East site being dangerously flooded. Sadly I forgot to pack my Scuba gear. Would have been awesome to see the inside of that!
I didn't bother with the North East side as it had barely anything worth seeing, plus it was getting dark.
This was a really great return to some exploring. I love old military infrastructure, so this one really interested me.
Photos
The 3 Sites.
The Southern Site
This rather large fence surrounds the site, as well as plastic containment to keep soil contamination contained.
This building styled like a farm cottage seemed to be the main administration building for the site. It was in the process of being tidied up and redecorated.
The 3 outbuildings at the front of the site.
The buildings at the rear of the site
The pump room
The small T shaped bunker.
Looks like they are preparing to carry out the work on this site.
The North West Site
Stood on-top you wouldn't guess that there was a massive storage tanker under your feet
Another little hut here for future work on the site.
Walking down towards the river side you can see the mooring posts at the edge of the river, which give some indication of the large size of the tanker barges that supplied this depot.
There were several accidents involving these barges. The railway bridge over the Severn near Sharpness and the original Haw Bridge were both destroyed in collisions with vessels used for the transport of petroleum products.
The rear of the pump room entrance.
That's a nope from me....
Must be easily 30ft down.
Would be awesome to see inside here, but will need a lot of pumping out!
One of the Access tunnels to the main tanks.
Goes back about 20 metres until the pipe connects to the tank.
Thanks for reading!
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