Another late uploaded report! Jan 2016!!! What am I playing at here? Visited here with Mookster in some diabolical weather. The site has been protected since a fire in 2008 but we managed to get around with no problems.
The Benham Works was not used to mass produce aircraft; instead it was used to build and test prototypes, The Mass production of these craft took place at the companies nearby factory in Hucclecote. Many infamous aircraft have origins at the Bentham Work. These aircraft include the Meteor which is the only Allied jet aircraft to see combat in WW2 which had it's first ground run at the site on June 29th, 1942.
The prototypes for the Gloster Javelin (an "all weather interceptor aircraft"), were built and designed at the Bentham Works too. The prototypes were then be taken by road to the companies aerodrome at Moreton Valence for testing. The Javelin was used by the RAF throughout the 50s and much of the 60s; proving to be a very successful aircraft.
There is no an exact date for the building but it is believed to be approx 1940, as in February 1940 GAC was selected to design the aircraft to be powered by the W.1 Engine; the E.28/39, the very first Frank Whittle based jet aircraft (yes, Frank Whittle was the man behind Pyestock).
The aircraft was also called “The Pioneer”, as it was the very first British jet engined aircraft to fly; again showing how important this place is in British aviation history.
GAC wound up in 1963, and since then the site has been used by Wilmot Breeden and later welding firm Bentham International who specialised in pipework; mostly for the petro-chemical industry. The site also once housed the largest brake press in Europe. The site appears to have been vacated around 1998/2000.
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More At:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/albums/72157665810408425
The Benham Works was not used to mass produce aircraft; instead it was used to build and test prototypes, The Mass production of these craft took place at the companies nearby factory in Hucclecote. Many infamous aircraft have origins at the Bentham Work. These aircraft include the Meteor which is the only Allied jet aircraft to see combat in WW2 which had it's first ground run at the site on June 29th, 1942.
The prototypes for the Gloster Javelin (an "all weather interceptor aircraft"), were built and designed at the Bentham Works too. The prototypes were then be taken by road to the companies aerodrome at Moreton Valence for testing. The Javelin was used by the RAF throughout the 50s and much of the 60s; proving to be a very successful aircraft.
There is no an exact date for the building but it is believed to be approx 1940, as in February 1940 GAC was selected to design the aircraft to be powered by the W.1 Engine; the E.28/39, the very first Frank Whittle based jet aircraft (yes, Frank Whittle was the man behind Pyestock).
The aircraft was also called “The Pioneer”, as it was the very first British jet engined aircraft to fly; again showing how important this place is in British aviation history.
GAC wound up in 1963, and since then the site has been used by Wilmot Breeden and later welding firm Bentham International who specialised in pipework; mostly for the petro-chemical industry. The site also once housed the largest brake press in Europe. The site appears to have been vacated around 1998/2000.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
More At:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/albums/72157665810408425
