In another thread the 'P' word was mentioned which took me on a trip back to 2010.
Over the years there are many locations that have come and gone both in and out of physical existence as well as in and out of people's memories. Occasionally however there is a location so iconic that it is able to stir up memories and make explorers reminisce about the 'good old days' long after the place has gone from the physical world. I'm talking places such as Cane Hill Asylum, Stella Brewery, and probably all manner of American locations I am not familiar with to name a few. And right up there sits the National Gas Turbine Establishment 'Pyestock' (or just Pyestock for short). Mention the name Pyestock to any explorer who has been around for a number of years and they will instantly know where you mean.
To put it short, Pyestock was the biggest industrial explore and one of, if not the best, derelict location the UK ever had. At least in my view speaking as an industrial fanatic it was the best. Mental hospitals were great (and there are precious few of them left) but to be able to stand in the same test cell where the Concorde engines were run up to full power during their development was mind-blowing. I look back on it now, looking at my frankly rubbish photos of an amazing place and always kick myself that I never got back there with my better gear. It's fair to say we - I - didn't know how well we had it back in 2010, as there will never, ever be another location of the same scale, importance and downright epicness as there was nestled in some woodland on the outskirts of Farnborough.
Some copied wikipedia brief history...
The National Gas Turbine Establishment (NGTE Pyestock) in Fleet, part of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), was the prime site in the UK for design and development of gas turbine and jet engines. It was created by merging the design teams of Frank Whittle's Power Jets and the RAE turbine development team run by Hayne Constant. NGTE spent most of its lifetime as a testing and development centre, both for experimental developments and to support commercial engine companies.
The newly merged venture was nationalised. Pyestock, a former golf course in a secluded wooded spot between Farnborough and Fleet was chosen as the turbine development site, as the activities at the NGTE would be top secret and the surrounding woodland would dampen the noise. Construction began in 1949 with small test "cubicles" inside buildings like the Plant House. When the possibility of supersonic jets arose, the site was expanded to the north west, with the Air House and several large test cells built circa 1961.
For over 50 years Pyestock was at the forefront of gas turbine development. It was probably the largest site of its kind in the world. V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were tested on site. The power of the air house allowed Concorde's engines to be tested at 2,000 mph. Every gas turbine installed in Royal Navy ships was checked here; captured Soviet engines were discreetly examined.
NGTE Pyestock closed down in 2000 and decommissioned to make way for a business park. |
During my four visits I saw the larger buildings - the iconic Air House with it's eight parallel compressors and Cell 4, Cell 3 and Cell 3 West as well as other smaller buildings.
Now I've finished waffling here are some poor quality photos, back in 2010 I only had a basic digital camera but it was better than nothing, although it's quite hard to get any sense of scale in some of the shots.
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I hope my self-indulgent trip down memory lane didn't go on too long, looking at these photos again brought back a whole lot of feelings and memories.
