Report - MOD Donnington Pool & Garrison Saddle Club - Telford - Dec 21

[Bikin Glynn]

MOD Donnington

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Throwing this one out there as I know a lot of "urbex teams" have been rushing that way recently.
By 1980 COD Donnington (along with COD Bicester) was one of just two remaining Central Ordnance Depots overseen by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps; nevertheless, in the 1970s and 80s, it grew to be one of the largest military store complexes in Europe. It remains in use as a storage depot, although the complex was scaled back following two serious fires (in 1983 and 1988)
At the turn of the millennium further investment took place as Parsons Barracks (named after Major-General Sir Harold Parsons) and Venning Barracks (named after General Sir Walter Venning) were developed.

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In September 2016, it was announced Parsons and Venning Barracks sites were among 13 sites named by the Ministry of Defence for future disposal. In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the Parsons and Venning Barracks sites would close, with an "Estimated Date of Disposal" in 2020. This was later extended to 2022, and once more to 2029.
Obviously the pool here has been abandoned for some time & while it is a ramshackle affair its really quite photogenic.

This I though was really cool, the use of nissen huts for changing & showers!

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Moving on just a stones throw from the pool is this place that I cant find a damn thing about, but its the former base of Donnington garrison saddle club.
It compromises of stable blocks, offices open air eventing ground & indoor manege area.

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Thats all from here, thanks for looking.

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[HughieD]

Decent explore that mate...

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

I like that, I thought I had read that wrong. I thought you went last week as your mate posted pics a few days after it was all over fb. This place is quite sentimental to me as my mum and dad was based here when they were in the army. It was my first house I lived in. Was born in the local hospital nearby at RAF Cosford. It’s not the community centred base it was in the early seventies.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Decent explore that mate...

Thanks mate, strangely there is very few decent pics of the pool on here either

 

[Bikin Glynn]

He posted pic cos someone els posted a fb pic then strangely several people commented on his post saying they were going to go this weekend which just shows the inability of some people to find their own stuff.
You living there is really interesting, I thought u were fen boy through & through, do u have many memories from here or were u really young? Did u ever use the pool?

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

He posted pic cos someone els posted a fb pic then strangely several people commented on his post saying they were going to go this weekend which just shows the inability of some people to find their own stuff.
You living there is really interesting, I thought u were fen boy through & through, do u have many memories from here or were u really young? Did u ever use the pool?

Ah I see. I know a few went the weekend.
I was only there a few years as a baby so no recollection. The old barracks was there then and the shop on the roundabout. It was a tiny local shop then. I am not sure that pool was even there then. My dad use to cook in the officers mess and mum was a driver.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Ah I see. I know a few went the weekend.
I was only there a few years as a baby so no recollection. The old barracks was there then and the shop on the roundabout. It was a tiny local shop then. I am not sure that pool was even there then. My dad use to cook in the officers mess and mum was a driver.

Interesting upbringing, not sure if anything else is abandoned there or ever will be, I know their plans to decommission the place keep getting pushed back

 

[Wally_urbex]

Good photos mate

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Good photos mate

Thanks

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nice coverage. The Nissan hut is cool, looks good as a changing room. The other report on here showed a board of rosettes have they gone?

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nice coverage. The Nissan hut is cool, looks good as a changing room. The other report on here showed a board of rosettes have they gone?

Yeah they were there when I went but I was being lazy in the riding school shooting freehand &, that one came out a bit blurry lol

 

[Ordnance]

I remember visiting Donnington in the 70's while I was based at COD Bicester and the pool was described as a covered 'open air pool' as it was unheated! Bicesters was open air till demolished in the 80's

DM Donnington (COD as was) has been almost completely rebuilt and civilianized unlike in the past, and like Bicester is still the Logistic Support for the Armed Forces. and no longer has a need for the support base it once needed with barracks, quarters, Naafi ect...

Both Parsons & Venning Barracks are still in limited use I believe, unlike the Riding Club & Pool.

 

[Mikeymutt🐶]

Interesting upbringing, not sure if anything else is abandoned there or ever will be, I know their plans to decommission the place keep getting pushed back

I think it’s more the barracks side of things is being decommissione. The logistics side is expanding. i have lived in quite a few places around the country.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

I remember visiting Donnington in the 70's while I was based at COD Bicester and the pool was described as a covered 'open air pool' as it was unheated! Bicesters was open air till demolished in the 80's

DM Donnington (COD as was) has been almost completely rebuilt and civilianized unlike in the past, and like Bicester is still the Logistic Support for the Armed Forces. and no longer has a need for the support base it once needed with barracks, quarters, Naafi ect...

Both Parsons & Venning Barracks are still in limited use I believe, unlike the Riding Club & Pool.

Excellent thanks for the info

 

[Grom]

That's pretty nice!