Report mg rover longbridge sept 16 industrial sites. Bbc news business longbridge car factory to reopen. Supreme court and the uncovering of a covert labyrinth of deadly political decisions along the way. The complete story and millions of other books are available for. From roman ford to rover mg longbridge keeps changing. Production at the longbridge plant in birmingham was massively scaled back after mg rover collapsed in 2005 meaning that the factory has been almost entirely unused over the past decade. The closure of the mg rover plant in longbridge birmingham live. This years pride of longbridge pol rally in cofton park, birminham on saturday april 12 was the bestattended in its nine year history after 2,800 people went along to the event. Corporation, british leyland, rover group and, latterly, mg rover. Longbridge plant urban explorer pictures b31 voices.
The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into administration in april 2005. Apr 02, 2015 the conveyor bridge at mg rover, longbridge, which connected west works to the south works demolished in 2006. A wide variety of products have been produced at the site during rover mg factory longbridge sept 16. Chinese automobile corporation nanjing automotive buys mg rover with the hope of restarting car production at longbridge by. The factory became dormant, and some parts of the older sections of the site were demolished after mg rover fell into. Bbc news provides trusted world and uk news as well as local and regional perspectives.
Last september, mg motor uk delivered a final blow to the former mg rover plant at longbridge, birmingham. Later that month the mg rover group goes into receivership. Mg rover group was the last domestically owned massproduction car manufacturer in the british motor industry. Visit bbc news for uptotheminute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. Longbridge produces models such as the austin metro and rover 200series which helps to keep bl, now called the austin rover group, afloat. It has been 10 years since production of the mg tf sports car restarted at what was mg rovers factory in longbridge. Chinese automobile corporation nanjing automotive buys mg rover with the hope of restarting car production at longbridge by 2007. The longbridge plant in birmingham, west midlands, was once a powerhouse employing 25,000 workers. Longbridges geographical placement made it perfect for transportation. Car manufacturing is to resume at longbridge, the former home of mg rover, with its new chinese owner set to start making mg models.
Report rover east works tunnels, longbridge march 2010. Mar 12, 2009 austin rover longbridge birmingham roundabout takes a look at the history, culture, development and regeneration of birmingham in the west midlands with photos, information and comment on a growing number of its landmarks. Images include rooftop shots, inside the factory and offices and in some of the underground tunnels under the plant. The redevelopment of longbridge historic home of mg rover and austin continues. The remains of the powertrain mg rover engine plant, at the east works, longbridge.
South works where it all began, then north works, west works and finally east works. With powerful individual vision, magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant. Apr 04, 2015 the consortiums plan was that mg rover group, as the new carmaker was named, would build 200,000 cars a year at longbridge a target that was to prove elusive.
During roman times you would have known the area as a safe spot to cross a river through the ford. History of longbridge hillscourt hotel birmingham events. Longbridge plant since 1906, the area has been dominated by the longbridge plant, which produced austin, nash metropolitan, morris, british leyland, and most recently mg rover cars. The west midlands plant has been inactive for almost two years after rover s collapse in 2005. Austin rover longbridge birmingham roundabout takes a look at the history, culture, development and regeneration of birmingham in the west midlands with photos, information and comment on a growing number of its landmarks. A huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. Employing 21,000 people at the beginning of the 1960s and peaking at 32,000 during both world wars, longbridge was once one of the largest manufacturing plants in the world. However, the plant was and is generally known simply as longbridge.
Feb 26, 2017 report longbridge rover factory 30062016. Sep 12, 2016 history opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers. The changing face of longbridge from roman ford to rover mg longbridge keeps changing each generation that uttered the name longbridge would have had a different connotation associated with the place. Introduction the origins of the longbridge works are a tin printing and box manufacturing works built by the birmingham company of white and pike ltd. Magnum photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer members. His father, a farmer, was giles stevens austin and his mother was clara jane simpson. Rover mgrovers longbridge plant, 10 years on gordonbennet few dealers wouldnt have been a problem 30 years ago when the faults that couldnt be fixed with a hammer a crow bar would suffice, they are just too complicated now unless the vahicle is a modern but simple and well proved, like japanese 4x4s destined for remote areas for example. Synopsis for ninetynine years, cars were made at longbridge. The factory on bristol road south was known locally after the firms founder as the austin until c1990 when, after a series of company amalgamations, it became the rover.
There is a history of political double dealing and dishonesty that started in texas and is now located in the east wing of the white house. Longbridge history of birmingham places a to y william dargue. The consortiums plan was that mg rover group, as the new carmaker was named, would build 200,000 cars a year at longbridge a target that was to prove elusive. Most people with even a smattering of the history of longbridge, remember the world famous plant where cars, tractors and lorries were churned out, first by austin and later rover.
Production of mgs, marketed here and across the world against the britishness of the brand, had finally ceased within the historic plant. As three openings suddenly appear on the supreme court, president longbridge depends on his advisor to help him choose persons to fill these vacancies in time for the spring session on the court. Apr 09, 2005 how rover reached the end of the road only a couple of weeks ago, rover was still chugging on, fuelled by hope of a topup downing street loan and a lifesaving chinese deal to fill the tank. Inside the eerie abandoned longbridge rover car factory in. Longbridge built its last car, a completely knocked down ckd mg3, in july 2016. He was educated at rotherham grammar school and brampton commercial college, where he studied architecture. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news. How rover reached the end of the road business the guardian. How rover reached the end of the road only a couple of weeks ago, rover was still chugging on, fuelled by hope of a topup downing street loan. Each generation that uttered the name longbridge would have had a different connotation associated with the place. We were having another look through mike scotts pictures from inside northfield manor earlier, and were reminded of a set of images he took back in 2007 in, on and under the rover plant at longbridge.
The latest chapter of its crisisstrewn history began that day four years ago when. The history of austin, longbridge and cowley is fascinating and when you think of how much that has has come and gone you can understand why people want to preserve elements of the past. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge, birmingham, england, currently. Nanjing automobile said mg production would restart within months and that it would employ many former rover workers. Rover longbridge the site was once the biggest manufacturing plant in the world and part of birminghams transport history, many thousands were employed producing and assembling cars in peacetime, which include the iconic austin mini, as well as aeroplanes, such as the lancaster bomber, and munitions during the wars.
This years pride of longbridge pol rally in cofton park, birminham on saturday april 12 was the bestattended in its nine year history after 2,800 people went along to the event the annual event, which began after the collapse of mg rover, saw hundreds of car enthusiasts from all over the country and even as far as belgium and holland bring a multitude. The mg motors plan and longbridges important role autocar. At the closure of mg rover on 8 april 2005, the works employed 6500 highly skilled men and women resourcing an estimated supply chain employing 27,000 people. It has been 10 years since production of the mg tf sports car restarted at. This place is filled with history and old car parts. Following the closure of the plant in april 2005 all that remains are th gb. Jan 30, 2007 car manufacturing is to resume at longbridge, the former home of mg rover, with its new chinese owner set to start making mg models. The expansion also enabled the 1915 construction of longbridge railway station within. Since 1906, the area has been dominated by the longbridge plant, which produced austin, nash metropolitan, morris, british leyland, and most recently mg rover cars. A wide variety of products have been produced at the site during its history, although the core product has been cars, most notably the original 2 door mini. Herbert austin was born on 8th november 1866 at 3, mill cottages little missenden, buckinghamshire, england.
Rover mgrovers longbridge plant, 10 years on motoring. The crash of mg rover directly affected some 6000 families together with the. The uk fortunes of mg motor, by contrast, have been rather less stellar. Buy making cars at longbridge by gillian bardsley, colin corke isbn. So its no surprise it should have become a centre for car building. History opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers.
The annual event, which began after the collapse of mg rover, saw hundreds of car enthusiasts from all over the country and even as far as belgium and holland. Find the perfect mg rover group longbridge plant stock photo. The story of how this new business came to be has been in development for over 14 years chronicling the founders experiences in the industry. Longbridge plant is an industrial complex in longbridge, birmingham, england, currently leased by saic as a research and development facility for its mg motor subsidiary. A new town centre has been created on the site of the old mg rover car factory, including a supermarket. Three of my favourite purchases are john bakers dvd of the 100th anniversary celebrations for austin, and 2 books i bought at gaydon making cars at. Sep 24, 2011 we were having another look through mike scotts pictures from inside northfield manor earlier, and were reminded of a set of images he took back in 2007 in, on and under the rover plant at longbridge. Less than a year off its century, the factory closed and 6,000 lost their jobs. The lads explored the famous longbridge mg rover plantfactory at night.
Dec 03, 2017 the uk fortunes of mg motor, by contrast, have been rather less stellar. How rover reached the end of the road business the. How rover reached the end of the road only a couple of weeks ago, rover was still chugging on, fuelled by hope of a topup downing street loan and a lifesaving chinese deal to fill the tank. The story of longbridge is full of tragedy and the loss of car making there has dealt a huge blow to the midlands manufacturing base. Is the editor of the parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of classic car weekly, and launch editorcreator of modern classics magazine. The project kimber team led by david james made an unsuccessful bid for the mg rover group after its collapse last year, losing out to major chinese manufacturers nanjing automotive nac who bought the companys assets for around pounds 50m.
The longbridge factory has grown over the years, but is split up into four main areas. The sudden, inexplicable death of a senior partner at wall streets oldest and most prestigious law firm sparks an improbable chain reaction that rapidly includes the framing of a murder suspect, a relentless national manhunt, a shocking attempt to gain control of the u. The long bridge here carried the bristol road across the river rea and may. Haunting photographs reveal how longbridge mg rover plant has. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of longbridge. The name of longbridge is synonymous with car production and not only in birmingham. Longbridge books is dedicated to the publication and promotion of works of fiction and nonfiction that convey canadas multicultural character.
The west midlands plant has been inactive for almost two years after rovers collapse in 2005. Opened in 1905, by the late 1960s longbridge employed around 25,000 workers, building cars including the original mini. Rover metro yearmodel 90 which was imported from england by private person, rover 200 1. For ninetynine years, cars were made at longbridge. Expanding the rover 75 with longbridge rover salooons and tourers. The conveyor bridge at mg rover, longbridge, which connected west works to the south works demolished in 2006. Nov 03, 2015 only longbridge remains in rovers hands mg rovers cars include standard rovers and sporty mg alternatives. Created uk in 2001 and built it up to become the worlds foremost reference source for all things bmc, leyland and rover group, before renaming it aronline in 2007. The company was formed when bmw sold the carmaking and engine manufacturing assets of the original rover group to the phoenix consortium in 2000 mg rover went into administration in 2005 and its key assets were purchased by nanjing automobile group, with nanjing restarting mg sports. Sep 27, 2016 a huge car factory lies frozen time eleven years after it was shut suddenly. Only longbridge remains in rovers hands mg rovers cars include standard rovers and sporty mg alternatives. The longbridge car plant, home of mg rover, lies eight miles south of birmingham city centre.
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