05-11-2023, 06:53 PM
Hi Tony,
East works was between Groveley Lane and the Cofton Village Hall where the aero engine factory was located. On the corner of Groveley Lane and Lowhill Lane was the "Flight Shed" which was the largest single span roof at the time it was built. Behind it was the lift to get the Spitfires up to the flying ground at the top. The larger aircraft, Stirling and Lancaster were too big to take off from the flying ground, so were transported by road to Elmdon(??) for assembly. The imprint of the lift in the concrete wall was there until they built the houses on the site of the flying shed, but can't be seen from the road now (still there?)
The path you show on your picture of Cofton Park led to an air raid shelter that was built under the park, the only trace being the remains of a wall which held the fuse boxes for the shelter.
My father worked at Austins and tells me that after a air raid practice it was pointed out that large numbers of workers wearing white overalls running across an open space were highly visible from the air, and they had a rethink!
East works was between Groveley Lane and the Cofton Village Hall where the aero engine factory was located. On the corner of Groveley Lane and Lowhill Lane was the "Flight Shed" which was the largest single span roof at the time it was built. Behind it was the lift to get the Spitfires up to the flying ground at the top. The larger aircraft, Stirling and Lancaster were too big to take off from the flying ground, so were transported by road to Elmdon(??) for assembly. The imprint of the lift in the concrete wall was there until they built the houses on the site of the flying shed, but can't be seen from the road now (still there?)
The path you show on your picture of Cofton Park led to an air raid shelter that was built under the park, the only trace being the remains of a wall which held the fuse boxes for the shelter.
My father worked at Austins and tells me that after a air raid practice it was pointed out that large numbers of workers wearing white overalls running across an open space were highly visible from the air, and they had a rethink!