White Cross Bay Factory, Windermere lake, Cumbria
N 54° 23.815 W 002° 55.884
30U E 504453 N 6027686
White Cross Bay was the site of a dispersed aircraft factory, building Shorts Sunderlands. All that remains are the gate house and an eight foot thick concrete platform on which the structures were erected. Now hard standing of a holiday park.
Waymark Code: WME89M
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/17/2012
Views: 9
Shorts were building Sunderland flying boats at their Rochester site when an air raid increased the urgency to disperse manufacturing out of range of German bombers. Windermere was known as a site for flying boats. The link may have been Barnes Wallis (bouncing bomb fame) who had been a draughtsman at Barrow for Vickers and now was working for Shorts.
Before construction of the site started, local do gooders (FOLD) objected to a massive factory and work force appearing in the heart of the Lake District. Did they not know there was war on? The Ministry of Supply assured the objectors that both the factory and the housing would be demolished once they were no longer needed. The village was called Calgarth and nothing remains of it. The Lakes School is on the site. The last occupant moved to Droomer Council housing, Windermere in 1960s.
The work force were recruited locally, offering better wages than folk were used to. Workers from existing factories were mixed in to train the locals. Everyone was on piece rate with a bonus for completed airframes. Initially complete aircraft were built, later the factory became a repair and refit centre. Upgraded engines, armaments and avionics were fitted. Each flying boat had a vice and an anchor. Both of which were fitted just before final take off, as they went missing otherwise.
The hanger could hold three airframes, making it the largest single span building at the time. Sunderland flying boats were used for long range, long duration patrols looking for submarines and downed airmen.
After the European conflict ended, the buildings were storage for War Department. Ammunition and surplus stocks were recorded.
The hanger and factory were demolished and re-erected as a bus garage and chemical factory elsewhere. Calgarth village held Jewish teenage refugees for a few months after the conflict. Search for Windermere Boys.
Related Website: [Web Link]
Supplementary Related Website: [Web Link]
Admission Fee: free
Opening Days/Times:
daylight is best
|
Visit Instructions:
Posting a picture(s) of the location would be nice although not required.