During the early part of WW11 Saunders-Roe were contracted to build flying boats at their premises near Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately the location was a prime target for german bombers and a new factory was needed away from the enemy threat. The new complex was built at Beaumaris on Anglesey on land that was part of the Fryars country estate. Buildings were erected in 1941 and the first task was to convert American Catalina flying boats to meet RAF standards for anti-submarine work. Much experimental work was also undertaken on flying boat development. After the war the business moved on to the manufacture of Buses, torpedo boats and a whole host of aluminium related engineering products. In 1959 Saunders Roe became part of Westland helicopters and, in 1968 the Anglesey site was merged with Cammell Laird and became Laird (Anglesey) Ltd. After a final merger in 1996 the site was gradually run down and finally closed its doors at the start of the new millenium. Since then it has slowly been left to rot .......
Gate guardian on Fryars House - in the heart of the complex.
This is B1 Hanger shop 5
and this building known as the Red hanger was supposedly dismantled from the Cowes site and rebuilt here ..
A post war heating plant for the site also still stands.
The main areas of interest on site are both at the Eastern end of the works and comprise two large hangers. This is a B2 and was known as 2 shop
Inside is mostly deserted save for a rather large spray booth and a few odds n sods
This is a T2 and was known as 1 Shop. The first pic shows the view back from the estuary along the 1952 built slipway for ships ( launched using a wheeled trailer vehical )
Inside are a few goodies and a lot of decay
Also on site, and extremely overgrown is the works X-Ray unit, with a couple of goodies. This is the entrance ....
.... and inside are a few artefacts from a bygone era..
First up an electric heater with a round pin plug
Secondly is this device, which i have no knowledge of at all. It is calibrated in Lbs ft and is attached to a swinging weight type device which moves like the pendulum of a clock. The only thing i can think of is that it was used to inflict a blow to metal objects, or welds, before they were x-rayed !!?
and lastly a rather shadowy extractor fan.
Thanks for viewing !!!!
Gate guardian on Fryars House - in the heart of the complex.
This is B1 Hanger shop 5
and this building known as the Red hanger was supposedly dismantled from the Cowes site and rebuilt here ..
A post war heating plant for the site also still stands.
The main areas of interest on site are both at the Eastern end of the works and comprise two large hangers. This is a B2 and was known as 2 shop
Inside is mostly deserted save for a rather large spray booth and a few odds n sods
This is a T2 and was known as 1 Shop. The first pic shows the view back from the estuary along the 1952 built slipway for ships ( launched using a wheeled trailer vehical )
Inside are a few goodies and a lot of decay
Also on site, and extremely overgrown is the works X-Ray unit, with a couple of goodies. This is the entrance ....
.... and inside are a few artefacts from a bygone era..
First up an electric heater with a round pin plug
Secondly is this device, which i have no knowledge of at all. It is calibrated in Lbs ft and is attached to a swinging weight type device which moves like the pendulum of a clock. The only thing i can think of is that it was used to inflict a blow to metal objects, or welds, before they were x-rayed !!?
and lastly a rather shadowy extractor fan.
Thanks for viewing !!!!
