Hi all !!
I know it's all been seen before but thought i'd post my piccies anyway.!! As you doubtlessly know by now,work on building these tunnels commenced in 1941 and they were handed over to Rover (rather late) in 1943.Their principle function was to build components for aero engines for the Bristol Aircraft Company.Somewhere between 500 - 700 people were employed here and the workshops were housed in the grid of side tunnels (Galleries) that existed in a grid formation from the 4 main entrance tunnels.These main tunnels are nearly one sixth of a mile long each and i'm sure that i read (although i cant remember where) that there are approx 3 miles of tunnel in all !!Not all of the tunnel sections were used by Rover as the North east corner of the complex was used as a store by thr RAF.
This is the entrance to Tunnel 4 showing the air lock doors and the Time Office (Where the employees clocked in.)
Once inside this is the kind of sight that greets you !! Massive tunnels with a warren of side Galleries.
To the left and right of these main tunnels are the Galleries which contained Offices,workshops,toilets etc.Unfortunately most of these have been stripped out and are just empty shells although some still have a bit of individuality.
This is the former Finished parts and jig stores.
This is Battery Room East
This is the view from Gallery 42 Gear Section accross Tunnel 2 and into Gallery 18 Final View.
This is Gallery 25a
Anodising,Chromating and Pickling !!
Gallery 26 The Progress and Waiting Time Office.
This is the rear of Gallery 22 Plating Shop showing the brick lined walls.
.....and this is Gallery 43 The Cylinder Barrels Machine Shop.
Accross to Tunnel 4 now.This is the only tunnel capable of being lit.It was retained in use long after the other 3 were abandoned and bricked up as it was an entrance way to the RSG 9.2 and latterly the RGHQ.
This is the entrance
This is part of the lit section showing an old abandoned motorized trolley,left over from Rover's days.
Looking towards the end of Tunnel 4.
At the end of Tunnel 4 is the entrance way to the former RAF Stores area.Yet another imposing Tunnel.
Staying in this area -now at the rear of the RGHQ this is looking towards the BBC area through what was the Ministry of Works area complete with Lansom Tube equipment on the left hand wall.
...at the rear of this is an old air vent unit and some topical graffiti poss from the early 90's
Back now accross to the centre section and a few pictures of the canteen area with the lights on......
..and lastly some pretty impressive brickwork at the blocked entrance to Tunnel 2.
Sorry for the mumber of photo's,there was just so much to see it is quite difficault to condense it for a report.
I know it's all been seen before but thought i'd post my piccies anyway.!! As you doubtlessly know by now,work on building these tunnels commenced in 1941 and they were handed over to Rover (rather late) in 1943.Their principle function was to build components for aero engines for the Bristol Aircraft Company.Somewhere between 500 - 700 people were employed here and the workshops were housed in the grid of side tunnels (Galleries) that existed in a grid formation from the 4 main entrance tunnels.These main tunnels are nearly one sixth of a mile long each and i'm sure that i read (although i cant remember where) that there are approx 3 miles of tunnel in all !!Not all of the tunnel sections were used by Rover as the North east corner of the complex was used as a store by thr RAF.
This is the entrance to Tunnel 4 showing the air lock doors and the Time Office (Where the employees clocked in.)
Once inside this is the kind of sight that greets you !! Massive tunnels with a warren of side Galleries.
To the left and right of these main tunnels are the Galleries which contained Offices,workshops,toilets etc.Unfortunately most of these have been stripped out and are just empty shells although some still have a bit of individuality.
This is the former Finished parts and jig stores.
This is Battery Room East
This is the view from Gallery 42 Gear Section accross Tunnel 2 and into Gallery 18 Final View.
This is Gallery 25a
Anodising,Chromating and Pickling !!
Gallery 26 The Progress and Waiting Time Office.
This is the rear of Gallery 22 Plating Shop showing the brick lined walls.
.....and this is Gallery 43 The Cylinder Barrels Machine Shop.
Accross to Tunnel 4 now.This is the only tunnel capable of being lit.It was retained in use long after the other 3 were abandoned and bricked up as it was an entrance way to the RSG 9.2 and latterly the RGHQ.
This is the entrance
This is part of the lit section showing an old abandoned motorized trolley,left over from Rover's days.
Looking towards the end of Tunnel 4.
At the end of Tunnel 4 is the entrance way to the former RAF Stores area.Yet another imposing Tunnel.
Staying in this area -now at the rear of the RGHQ this is looking towards the BBC area through what was the Ministry of Works area complete with Lansom Tube equipment on the left hand wall.
...at the rear of this is an old air vent unit and some topical graffiti poss from the early 90's
Back now accross to the centre section and a few pictures of the canteen area with the lights on......
..and lastly some pretty impressive brickwork at the blocked entrance to Tunnel 2.
Sorry for the mumber of photo's,there was just so much to see it is quite difficault to condense it for a report.
