Alternative Longbridge History Walk, August 2016
Local Historian Steve Wright led a fascinating Altenerative Longbridge History walk that explore areas of the site of the former Longbridge Car Factory that were developed during WW2 under the mysterious sounding Shadow Factory Scheme.
The Shadow Factory scheme was developed in 1936, devised to increase the urgent need for more military aircraft in the increasing likelihood of war. Herbert Austin (founder of the Longbridge Car Factory) chaired the scheme's committee.
Austin's main'shadow factory' was on Grovelly Lane by Cofton Park. It produced Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft and Stirling and Lancaster bombers. The fighters were flown off the factory's airfield which was situated on ground behind the current MG buildings on Lowhill Lane. The bombers were transported in sections to Austin's Elmdon shadow facility where they were assembled and flown off.