Esso Fuel Dispersal Depot, Islip May '11

[mookster]

At a loose end me and TBM decided to hit a couple of local sites today and this was one.

History shamelessly stolen from UKMayhem's 2008 report:

The site first opened in the 1930's as an RAF reserve fuel depot with a capacity of around 6500 tons. After the war the site was taken over by Esso as a fuel dispersal depot, it was expanded in the 1960's and in the late 1960's 60 wagons a day would enter the depot, 30 in the morning and 30 in the afternoon. The site closed down in 1969. Its history since has been abit vauge, It is believed it was used after to supply jet fuel to RAF Upper Heyford as the pipeline stretched out to the village of somerton which is next to the airbase. The pumps have been quiet since the late 80's early 90's which coinsides with the base's closer in 1994.

The buildings are done up tighter than the nun's proverbial, and there are a hell of a lot of sheep occupying the site pretty much all year round, and with the sheep comes sheep **** and that is also everywhere. Still, it was a good wander on a gorgeous afternoon with lots of pipey goodness, it's just a shame all the underground sections have been catastrophically flooded.

All shot handheld so some are quite rubbish.































Thanks for looking, more pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157626582485633

 

[BahrainPete]

Some great pics, and I particularly like the phone shot.

The theory of the pipeline feeding Upper Heyford seems a fair assumption as JP8 fuel (pic 15) is a US military grade for aviation.

 

[Snips86x]

Nice photo's and you seem to have chosen a fantastic day. I'm assuming it was dry by the cleaning date on the plaque? Shame about the underground chambers, that would have been interesting to walk around. Never the less, great report.