Star Road WW2 Shadow Factory, Reading

Star Road WW2 Shadow Factory, Caversham

It was part of the Reading group that produced spitfires in WW2, eventually employing 1600 people, mainly women. At Star Road fuselages

were fitted out and engines installed prior to final assembly at Henley Shadow Factory on the Wargrave Road and latterly Aldermaston. Though mainly used by the USAF, the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) built an assembly hanger for Vickers just south of the airfield in the site now known as Hangar Road (part of the old AWRE housing estate).



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

114-116 Oxford Road Air Raid Shelter, Reading

Image
 Air Raid Shelter underneath a shop in Reading now demolished with no trace. Two levels below the building remained a series of arches and vaulted ceilings, the space was originally part of Crypt which connected into the neighbouring building which is Holy Trinity Church by a single way tunnel. The tunnel went off in two directions one directly into the churches Crypt situated in the basement and the other i have no idea as by the time i got down there it was bricked up and ready for demolition. Later on during World War Two the Crypt under the shop and Church was converted into a Public Air Raid Shelter.  One of my greatest finds in Reading so far back in 2017 i managed to find a way into the old Richer Sounds Building 114-116 Oxford Road, i went down two basements before reaching a hatch with a ladder i thought 'WOW what have i just found' in no time i was down that ladder and realised i just found a hidden gem under Reading. Escape Ladder incase the church was bombed.  Old c
Read more

WW2 Home Guard Unit, Tilehurst Reading

Image
 Disused WW2 Home Guard Building situated in front on a church in Tilehurst. Condition is unknown as its completely sealed. Later on used as a police box/mini station in the 1960s/1970s. What is 'a member of  the Home Guard' ???? The  Home Guard  defended key targets like factories, explosive stores, beaches and sea fronts. At night they patrolled fields in which the enemy gliders or paratroops might land. No one expected them to beat well-trained German soldiers. Their job was  to slow them down until the army arrived.
Read more

Whitley Library ARP Wardens Post Shelter, Reading

Image
 The shelter is situated behind a now disused Library in Whitley which was originally at one point in its life the ARP Headquarters Group during the Second World War. Whitley Library was built in 1935 in a classical and confident municipal style building made from red bricks and a lovely bath stone cartouche at the very top which says Library written on it. A few years after opening all the locals were involved in a desperate struggle for our nations very existence. The Library then became a local ARP Wardens HQ in 1940s with a underground post around the back rear of the building. Sadly during World War Two several Whitley residents were killed or injured in the air raid on the town in 1943. A library in these sad times would have been useful as a important refuge and the ordered symmetry of this building would have stood out as the architecture of hope.  The Library does still remain today but being repurposed. Further down the road from here is Rabsons Recreational Ground which once
Read more