Scrapyard Photos; Any More?

It’s amazing how accessible the old yards were to those with “the knowledge”.

I’d been told about the yard in Swinton (which turned out to be the best ever yard I got into) many times over the previous few years, but the lurid descriptions of what was to be found in there just didn’t ring true – maybe twenty years previously but now, in 1978, surely not? I put it down to folk losing track of time.

However, one saturday, I put on a display for N.A.P.S. in Salford, and just about everyone who came to view the bits and pieces, told me about the Swinton yard again!

I just had to check it out. After finishing the display, me and my pal drove over to Swinton. He’d hurt his ankle playing rugby, so opted to stay with the car and keep an eye on the bits and pieces (everyone knows leaving an unguarded car in Salford is a risky business).

He stayed with the car and I followed the very precise directions which every Salfordian seemed to know by heart:

“follow the river ’til you come to the canal, walk along the fence until you come to the third bush, crawl thru the hole in the wire”.

What presented itself to me was, quite literally, a pile of WW2 aircraft components – Typhoon elevators, Lancaster canopies, bits of turret, spade grips and throttle boxes. I actually tripped over a Miles Master throttle box!

When I eventually staggered back to the car, all I could say was:

“It’s all ********n’ true! There’s piles of the stuff!”

A few days later, we were there with the yard’s blessing and were allowed to take away anything we wanted. For free – they just could not believe that anyone had any interest in the old scrap that had lain around for decades.

That was the start of regular visits that went on for years until, one day, when phoning up to arrange yet another foraging session, I was told:

“It’s all gone”.

They had cleared the whole area, laid concrete and were using it for storage of containers, all within a space of about three weeks since the previous visit!

Looking back on it now, it just seems amazing that someone “into” cockpit collecting should find such a treasure trove of stuff, almost on his own door step.

Ah, Mag Elektron, happy days!

I subsequently found out that N.A.P.S. had investigated the yard during the 1960’s and had dismissed it’s contents as “scrap”! :rolleyes:

Thought you all might be interested to see this shot taken at Kemble in February 1971 just after Red Arrows Gnats XR986 & XR545 were involved in a fatal mid-air collision on 20th January 1971.

Anybody have any photographs of the Scottish scrapyards at Quarrywood or Milnathort? Come on, Mr Whitton, you must have some?

Malta Mosquito Remains

Hello Spiteful

I have sent you a Private Message.

What site had the TSR2 fuselages? I recall seeing a photo next to a pile of Hunters

I spent many hours ‘browsing’ around the Super Alloys yard in the mid/late 60’s. What a treasure trove, if only I had realised exactly what I was playing with.

Entry as Matt said was from the rear ( I went in round the back of the ‘egg factory’). A couple of menacing dogs kept most away, but for reasons unknown they were always freindly to me and little brother. I remember seeing a few cockpits/fuselages as well as Anson Mainplanes and a large white fuselage under a canopy.

Nuff of the memory lane waffling, hears a couple of pics from the front of the yard. The condition of the Javelins is remarkably tidy ( doubt they had been there long) What price those fuselages today!!

SuperAlloys, Brownhills

…. Superalloys was accessible on Sundays from the back – particularly when the canal was frozen over. We tried the gate but were turned away…honest. In there I remember seeing large numbers of box trailers – which may have been radio or radar-related, loads of searchlights, what looked like to me like Lincoln or Lancaster turrets – and the bones of what we thought at the time was a Spitfire fuselage – may be wrong on that.

…Taylors is now a pallett yard – not sure about Superalloys…?

Anyone know any more about these places and their scrapping history ?

Sparky67
—

The Superalloys site at Lichfield Road, Brownhills ( that could be seen on the brow of a hill above the A5) has been a vacant site for many years. The offices, smelting works and the large brick chimney were mothballed for many years before demolition. The attached photos show that there are now slim pickings left for the aircraft buff – but as a nature ramble, not too bad!

For some interesting scrapyad photos of British Phantoms try this site

http://www.geocities.com/g111258/index.html

IS there anything else around from that Shackleton that you see the cockpit section of?

Great photos. Some aircraft really look sad 🙁

I agree, pity about those Ventura’s. Also pity that the RAFM’s ex SAAF example has been in storage for two decades.

Will this thread make it to 35.000 hits? 😉

Cheers

Cees

Great photos. Some aircraft really look sad 🙁

SAAF Museum Zwartkops treasures 2

Also see my website: http://geocities.com/sa_bushwar

SAAF Museum Zwartkops treasures

For more graveyard photos, goto my website at:http://geocities.com/sa_bushwar

Thanks MR B what a waste…

does anyone have any Victor scrapyard pics?

Peter

Here’s some Victors for you…

All taken at Manston, XH590 & XH650 in May 1978 and XH616 in October 1985

In our schooldays myself and a friend used to cycle miles to visit two aircraft scrapyards in the West Midlands – Superalloys in Brownhills and B A Taylors in Great Bridge.

Superalloys was accessible on Sundays from the back – particularly when the canal was frozen over. We tried the gate but were turned away…honest. In there I remember seeing large numbers of box trailers – which may have been radio or radar-related, loads of searchlights, what looked like to me like Lincoln or Lancaster turrets – and the bones of what we thought at the time was a Spitfire fuselage – may be wrong on that.

Sparky67
—

Your ‘Spitfire’ is almost certainly Seafire XV SW800.

What was left of it was rescued and is currently in Australia.

Do please try and locate the photographs. 🙂

Mark

West Midlands Scrapyards

In our schooldays myself and a friend used to cycle miles to visit two aircraft scrapyards in the West Midlands – Superalloys in Brownhills and B A Taylors in Great Bridge.

Superalloys was accessible on Sundays from the back – particularly when the canal was frozen over. We tried the gate but were turned away…honest. In there I remember seeing large numbers of box trailers – which may have been radio or radar-related, loads of searchlights, what looked like to me like Lincoln or Lancaster turrets – and the bones of what we thought at the time was a Spitfire fuselage – may be wrong on that.

B A Taylors in Great Bridge could be similarly accessed over the side wall from the garden of the void house next door at night – allegedly. In there we had the pleasure of visiting a number Canadian F86’s still with cockpit fittings – I remember 6 piled up vertically in two stacks of 3 against the back wall and others scattered around the yard. Large parts of TSR2 airframe also appeared in there at one time.

Somewhere I have photos…although after 35 years they are taking a bit of finding…

Taylors is now a pallett yard – not sure about Superalloys…?

Anyone know any more about these places and their scrapping history ?

Sparky67
—

Correct Flat…my Dad and I came across it about 15 years ago – when we were over for Merlins last year we decided to see if it was still there, and it was!

The ‘scrapyard’ is really someones backgarden now, and the people who own it were kind enough to let us have a look again. I don’t think it’s a fact that the price is too high, but that they just don’t want to part with it.

Some of the stories they have are great too…and some of the aircraft that went there to be scrapped…if only some were still there too!

Hi MAISO,

I was at Gutersloh 81-84 and recall the rumours too. Used to drive round there in the ATC rover but never did find anything.

Here are some pics I took last year. Remains are of a Mosquito, but can anyone confirm if the wheels are too? They look similar to Hornet wheels to me (unless both aircraft hadthe same type?)

Thanks.

Are these the well known remains in a Malta scrapyard? I’m surprised somebody has not recovered the remains if only for the metal parts, are they for sale ?, is the price too high $$$$ ?