Frank Whittle's Factory
The Explore
Marking the end of a long days', mostly successful moochathon in Leicester last year. An easy target, and in its current state was a challenge to capture a photo or ten for a report. Anyway, it was nice to walk on ground where history was made in this little town of Whetstone. First time I've had to take out the editing wand and I hope you like the resulting images from a quiet days processing in work. Visited in the excellent company of Matt_Inked, Session9 and Catbalou.
The History
Whetstone was the site of Frank Whittle's factory, where jet engines were developed. Babcock Services,
ITP Engines Ltd and Converteam now occupy a nearby live site, with smaller companies renting space in the area too.
The site of the Whittle factory became the English Electric Company (Later GEC) a significant part of
several Nuclear power stations were made there in the 1960s and 70s. English Electric was one of
the largest Engineering Companies in the Leicester area, employing thousands of workers and training hundreds
of apprentices each year. At one point more than 4,000 workers had to beshipped in from Middlesex to help
labour shortages and many settled permanently causing a boom in the late 60s.
The computer performance measurement called the "Whetstone" was developed by English Electric at the
factory and takes its name from the local village.
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The place is what some might call "fooked", and it definitely is just that. The world-changing
developments that occurred on these grounds, and it's left here to get trashed...
The Explore
Marking the end of a long days', mostly successful moochathon in Leicester last year. An easy target, and in its current state was a challenge to capture a photo or ten for a report. Anyway, it was nice to walk on ground where history was made in this little town of Whetstone. First time I've had to take out the editing wand and I hope you like the resulting images from a quiet days processing in work. Visited in the excellent company of Matt_Inked, Session9 and Catbalou.
The History
Whetstone was the site of Frank Whittle's factory, where jet engines were developed. Babcock Services,
ITP Engines Ltd and Converteam now occupy a nearby live site, with smaller companies renting space in the area too.
The site of the Whittle factory became the English Electric Company (Later GEC) a significant part of
several Nuclear power stations were made there in the 1960s and 70s. English Electric was one of
the largest Engineering Companies in the Leicester area, employing thousands of workers and training hundreds
of apprentices each year. At one point more than 4,000 workers had to beshipped in from Middlesex to help
labour shortages and many settled permanently causing a boom in the late 60s.
The computer performance measurement called the "Whetstone" was developed by English Electric at the
factory and takes its name from the local village.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
The place is what some might call "fooked", and it definitely is just that. The world-changing
developments that occurred on these grounds, and it's left here to get trashed...
