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Report - - NGTE Pyestock - Fleet - 10.01.09 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - NGTE Pyestock - Fleet - 10.01.09

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MADMAX

Member
28DL Full Member
NGTE Pyestock for more than 50 years was THE place for the development and testing of gas turbine engines. From the 1950s through to the 1970s, it was the largest facility of its type in Europe (maybe even the world). Some of the most important testing of the 20th century was held on this massive site, from running up Concordes jet engines in a simulated supersonic conditions through to the endurance checking of every gas turbine installed in the ships of the Royal Navy.

Unfortunately, due to continued advances in computer simulations, Pyestock was gradually run down and now stands unused. The buildings are considered to be of national, if not international importance (but are far from listed). As it stands the whole site is destined to be demolished and replaced by a supermarket distribution centre.

So, a mix of 28dl and mids-urbexing members took the opportunity to visit this forgotten landmark. The motley crew consisted of Cobra00uk, Baz, Springy, Lincs Rover, Squirrell911, Iron Monkey and myself.
With the use of stealth and a fair amount of luck, spent a full day exploring its treasures hassle free.

To make it easier for everyone to label their photos etc, I've put a list of the buildings we saw in order.

Cell 3 west (worlds largest webcam)
No. 10 Exhauster (the first main building we went in)
Cell 4 (the Huge hangar that the film Sahara was partly film in)
Cell 3 (the underground tunnel where the group shots were taken)
Airhouse (the massive hall with 8 turbines)
Plant House (fun getting in - the last main building)
Cell 3 Computer room (accessed via tunnels, a good view of Security)
Cell 3 west (back to the worlds largest webcam for final extental shots)

Please share your experiences when you post up, of what was a great, if not very cold days exploring.

I've tried to put a selection of photos up that will be different to everyone elses who went yesterday. This is mainly to give rest of the group an opportunity to show off Pyestocks main features.
Also this was my second visit, so I was trying to shoot elements that I'd not seen or photographed before.
I've always enjoyed catching people in photos; Squirrell flicking through the old newspaper and Lincs Rover on top of the main unit in Cell 4 are two good examples of this.
Most of these shots come from either Cell 4 (probably my favouite) and the newly explored Plant House.
Enjoy!

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C

cobra00uk

Guest
Guest
Just couple more to tryed to put up diffrent stuff

What is amazing and you cant see in the pics is that everything in this place is on a HUGE scale. Makes it a truly amazing experience

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IronMonkey

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I had high expectation of this place from previous reports. The night before was like Christmas eve but finally we were there, and what a site! As a fan of industrial stuff, this place is like heaven. The relief to get into the first building without being spotted was immense, it would have been terrible to drive that far for nothing.

Everywhere you turn there is big, heavy instrial equipment and you can only wonder what sort of place this must have been like to work in when operational.

Parsons turbine in No.10 Exhauster
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Cell 4 Internals
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Heavy access door into the core of test cell 4
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Instrumention cabinets
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Down the throat of cell 4
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More to follow.....
 

IronMonkey

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Moving from Cell 4 into the immense airhouse. After a few tense moments in the open while gaining access to this location I was relieved to get inside and out of danger once more.

I'm not a fan of heights at all, but I just had to climb the gantry and onto the overhead crane to get some shots over the airhouse. Even at 17mm I couldn't fit it all in, oh for a 10-20mm!

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Then into the airhouse control room for a spot of lunch
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Leaving the airhouse we thought we might have been spotted, a quick dash around the plant house looking for access and finally we squeezed in.

Airhouse exterior
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Test cells 1 & 2 from the plant house
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Finally inside the plant house
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After checking out a few more locations, and with fading light we headed back towards Cell 3 west.

General view towards airhouse from cell 3 west cooling plant roof.
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I arrived home shattered but happy after a great day. I woke after sleeping for a solid 12 hours feeling that I may never top this place as an explore. For me it has everything, and I can only hope to get back again before this piece of British industrial heritage is lost forever under a Tesco distribution centre.

Thanks to our two guids for their superb tour.
 
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