History
In 1940, the Government decided to order Consolidated Catalina aircraft from the USA to replace the Saunders-Roe (Saro) Lerwick flying boat, which was proving to be not fit for task, due to handling issues. Delivery of the Catalinas commenced in early 1941, and conversion work was required to meet Air Ministry specifications. The flying boat manufacturer Saunders-Roe were contracted to undertake this work. Saunders-Roe produced flying boats (the Supermarine Walrus and its successor, the Sea Otter) on the Isle of Wight. This location left Saunders-Roe extremely vulnerable to enemy attack and a safer location was sought for the Catalina conversion work.
The Menai Straits were found to be an excellent location for flying boat operations, and the company purchased the Burton’s Fryars estate near Beaumaris in 1940. The Saro Shrimp was one of the aircraft that first appeared here in the summer of 1940. Saunders Roe dismantled one of their spare hangars at Cowes and re-erected it on site in August 1941. The Ministry of Aircraft Production then built a further hangar and workshops on the site in December 1941, linked to the foreshore by a concrete slipway.
For four years there were flying boats stretching from the Gazelle Hotel down to Fryars Bay. In all, 399 Catalinas came through the site. Substantial work was carried out to prepare them for various roles with both the RAF and the Royal Navy.
After the war Saunders-Roe transferred their shipbuilding operations to the site. An experimental Auster floatplane was tested at Beaumaris in 1944, 1949 and again in 1955. However, it was found to be severely lacking in power and the design was never carried forward. The firm also manufactured bus bodies for both London and Cuba. Other vehicle manufacturers went on to take over the site, which closed completely in 1997.
It was an RAF Catalina which had passed through Fryars that found the Bismarck in 1941 after it had escaped in bad weather.
The Explore
Myself and a friend of mine decided to check this place out as part of a short trip to Wales recently. We hadn't actually planned this place into the trip but due to changes we decided it would be good for a quick look about. Weren't certain on weather the site was secure or not or still in use in some form of another so we did keep our heads down for the majority. We made a fairly stealthy route up to the site after navigating a ditch and the nettles. It was upon heading up to the site we had seen another gentlemen walking about in the grounds which made us think we wouldnt be appreciated and the site was in use in parts. It was nice to put a place to the research which I'd done, especially given the significane of some of the work carried out here. Although pretty stripped there were some nice bits to shoot and all round was a pretty calm explore. I Found myself walking the red painted path that the workers would have walked thinking what the place would have been like in its active days. The explore was quickly cut short when myself and a friend passed a yard full of rusty chains and anchors. We were again by this time even less sure if some of the site was still used and this didnt help. We passed the yard full of pallets of rust and I went round a corner only to hear a number of beeps! My friend suggested we make a quick getaway out of the main entrance, however on walking towards said entrance we saw a police unit roll by. We quickly turned back and hid for a bit and left the same way we came in. No other drama apart from breaking my camera strap on a snagged fence. Cheers for reading
Once again thanks for Looking
In 1940, the Government decided to order Consolidated Catalina aircraft from the USA to replace the Saunders-Roe (Saro) Lerwick flying boat, which was proving to be not fit for task, due to handling issues. Delivery of the Catalinas commenced in early 1941, and conversion work was required to meet Air Ministry specifications. The flying boat manufacturer Saunders-Roe were contracted to undertake this work. Saunders-Roe produced flying boats (the Supermarine Walrus and its successor, the Sea Otter) on the Isle of Wight. This location left Saunders-Roe extremely vulnerable to enemy attack and a safer location was sought for the Catalina conversion work.
The Menai Straits were found to be an excellent location for flying boat operations, and the company purchased the Burton’s Fryars estate near Beaumaris in 1940. The Saro Shrimp was one of the aircraft that first appeared here in the summer of 1940. Saunders Roe dismantled one of their spare hangars at Cowes and re-erected it on site in August 1941. The Ministry of Aircraft Production then built a further hangar and workshops on the site in December 1941, linked to the foreshore by a concrete slipway.
For four years there were flying boats stretching from the Gazelle Hotel down to Fryars Bay. In all, 399 Catalinas came through the site. Substantial work was carried out to prepare them for various roles with both the RAF and the Royal Navy.
After the war Saunders-Roe transferred their shipbuilding operations to the site. An experimental Auster floatplane was tested at Beaumaris in 1944, 1949 and again in 1955. However, it was found to be severely lacking in power and the design was never carried forward. The firm also manufactured bus bodies for both London and Cuba. Other vehicle manufacturers went on to take over the site, which closed completely in 1997.
It was an RAF Catalina which had passed through Fryars that found the Bismarck in 1941 after it had escaped in bad weather.
The Explore
Myself and a friend of mine decided to check this place out as part of a short trip to Wales recently. We hadn't actually planned this place into the trip but due to changes we decided it would be good for a quick look about. Weren't certain on weather the site was secure or not or still in use in some form of another so we did keep our heads down for the majority. We made a fairly stealthy route up to the site after navigating a ditch and the nettles. It was upon heading up to the site we had seen another gentlemen walking about in the grounds which made us think we wouldnt be appreciated and the site was in use in parts. It was nice to put a place to the research which I'd done, especially given the significane of some of the work carried out here. Although pretty stripped there were some nice bits to shoot and all round was a pretty calm explore. I Found myself walking the red painted path that the workers would have walked thinking what the place would have been like in its active days. The explore was quickly cut short when myself and a friend passed a yard full of rusty chains and anchors. We were again by this time even less sure if some of the site was still used and this didnt help. We passed the yard full of pallets of rust and I went round a corner only to hear a number of beeps! My friend suggested we make a quick getaway out of the main entrance, however on walking towards said entrance we saw a police unit roll by. We quickly turned back and hid for a bit and left the same way we came in. No other drama apart from breaking my camera strap on a snagged fence. Cheers for reading
Once again thanks for Looking 
