Graham-White Factory – Hendon

Multivac, re the upper galleries
I asked one of the warders on a recent visit, and he said they are being turned into an interactive role playing stage set for older school children. They are part of the crew of a downed aircraft and have to take the decisions necessary to get themselves rescued safely. There won’t be any exhibits up there, and it won’t be public space.

Sorry, I tried for irony and missed.

My other interest is Archaeology and frequently parts of the British Museum are closed – reason not enough staff. I overheard a visitor from the USA pleading to get into one gallery but with no luck – he was going home the next day.

So I agree with JEEPMAN, that the RAFM should be able to open all of its galleries when the museum is open.

At last the RAFM seems to have got itself sorted out with respect to the G-W hanger.

Sorry but I can’t agree with that………….

Any museum that only has key galleries open for a small part of the day has got to be “failing” in my book.

Can you imagine the fuss if the IWM restricted access to parts of Lambeth, or Duxford, the National Gallery denied access to a famous Turner, Holbein, Reynolds, Gainsborough or Monet, the V&A restricted access to it’s gallery of costume or the British Museum to the Sutton Hoo treasure. What would be the fall out if you couldn’t see the Flying Scotsman at the NRM except for 5 minutes around noon on any day that starts with a “W”.

If they have to do it then they could at least alternate between morning and afternoon opening on a daily, known, sequence to accommodate individual’s preferences and schedules.

If they can’t adequately man what they’ve got, how are they going to manage new developments?

At last the RAFM seems to have got itself sorted out with respect to the G-W hanger.

Now I’ll have to make a more planned visit and not base such around some retail therapy down at that other H place.
“How do I get to H?” “Just follow the yellow bags sir!” 😉

By the way what’s happening with the gallery in the main hall? When I tried for a look recently it was closed, and not much evidence of any exhibits up there either.

Depends – you need Listed Building Consent (Planning Permission) to demolish them but what I imagine has happened is that the MOD lawyers will have put provision in the contract for sale that the land will be sold at x price but the developers will covenant to dismantle, remove and re-erect the building as part of the transfer agreement, I assume this will be reflected in the selling price. Linked will be their consent to demolish any other listed buildings not required on site.

Lawyers hat off. 😉

TT

I would guess the developers want to get a move on they must have waited ages to use the land that the buildings occupy. Mind you is that how it works when you buy listed buildings?

Great stuff Steve, that was news to me too- lets hope they save the gatehouse and its carved RFC crest also

TT

Yes, I am told once the negotiations have been completed over the financial arrangements (along the same lines as those for the GW hangar).

re:

Is it definite they are moving the watch office?

Be nice to shift a Dove to park in front of it like the famous shot from the 50s.

So presumably the staffing problems will only get worse once the watch office has been relocated onto RAFM land?

just for 2 hours per day.

Whilst it’s a start, opening the Grahame-White Factory for just 2 hours a day

…WHICH ‘two hours’? :confused:

Well said Robbo and Andy.

I have posted before that I have been fortunate to be able to get into the G-WF each time I’ve visited – apparently more through luck than judgement!

It IS a national treasure and shows how ‘context’ really sets off an exhibit(s)

TT

That comes across really mealy-mouthed, as if it was the best you can say about it.

It is a brilliant project, well executed, and marred only by erratic accessibility, and possibly a lack of in-depth captioning.

Moggy

Moggy,
I spent two excellent hours in the CGW building on Saturday morning.
The attendant, who’s name was Paul, couldn’t have been more accommodating and the exhibits are in fine fettle and more stuff is being added all the time.

The CGW building really is a treasure.
After so much complaining about the building being closed on previous visits, we took the time to write and thank the Hendon authorities that they’ve got the place open again.
I also discovered the reasons behind the stories last year regarding the heating system. The original system was a severe fire hazard as installed and did have to be completely replaced.

Andy

At least the aeroplanes are not squashed in and the lightings reasonable.

What do you mean ‘at least’?

That comes across really mealy-mouthed, as if it was the best you can say about it.

It is a brilliant project, well executed, and marred only by erratic accessibility, and possibly a lack of in-depth captioning.

Moggy

It is nice to see that they have finaly opened it up. I was able to get acsess at the end of last year and was impressed by it. The aeroplanes are realy well spaced out in there and the lighting there is so much better than the rest of the museum i feel.

I walked around the Grahame-White factory at Hendon last year, brilliant stuff.

That looks just like a museum should, aeroplanes that appear as if they are serviceable and ready to be wheeled out at dawn and flown.

Sorry not a fan of displays that cram so much in it becomes difficult to tell whats what.