Royal Ordnance Factory Bishopton, near Glasgow - Early 2009

[the_historian]

Well, not exactly listed Ben. I've managed to get a few WW2 sites added to the NMR for Scotland by sending reports into the RCAHMS in Edinburgh. The online record is called CANMORE
Bishopton is already on here, fortunately. ROF Bishopton
You could always write to the RCAHMS and ask what developments they are aware of for the ROF.
If you're interested in that sort of thing, I can give you a few tips on writing reports for any future sites.

 

[simaving]

rof bishopton

if carlsberg did u.e reports.... Thanks for stunning viewing/reading,simon

 

[BenCooper]

Thanks

I'll try writing to RCAHMS - Canmore is a brilliant resource I've used before...

 

[RedDave]

I'm jealous!

An amazing report of the place I'd most like to explore, and very well researched. Well done.

I used to cycle past it when I was a kid, while it was still in use. However, I was unsure of the legality of trespass into it, as explosives were (and for all I knew are) still stored in it, which would make trespass there a criminal offence. I passed it again last year, without stopping, during my Scottish road trip. The scale of ROF Bishopton is now clear from OS maps. During operation, the maps were never updated and showed farmland and woodland, though we all knew what was behind the tall fence and fir trees.

The architect of Dargavel House was David Bryce. Glad to see it's still in good nick . Maybe it will, some day, be open to the public. It would be some consolation for the dereliction and later demolition of nearby Craigends House, another of my childhood haunts.

Glad to hear charges against you were dropped.

One other thing: I read that there was blue asbestos (even nastier than vanilla asbestos) in some of the buildings, so I hope you wore a P3 mask, stayed out of those buildings, or I've been misinformed.

 

[BenCooper]

I'm jealous!

An amazing report of the place I'd most like to explore, and very well researched. Well done.

I used to cycle past it when I was a kid, while it was still in use. However, I was unsure of the legality of trespass into it, as explosives were (and for all I knew are) still stored in it, which would make trespass there a criminal offence. I passed it again last year, without stopping, during my Scottish road trip. The scale of ROF Bishopton is now clear from OS maps. During operation, the maps were never updated and showed farmland and woodland, though we all knew what was behind the tall fence and fir trees.

The architect of Dargavel House was David Bryce. Glad to see it's still in good nick . Maybe it will, some day, be open to the public. It would be some consolation for the dereliction and later demolition of nearby Craigends House, another of my childhood haunts.

Glad to hear charges against you were dropped.

One other thing: I read that there was blue asbestos (even nastier than vanilla asbestos) in some of the buildings, so I hope you wore a P3 mask, stayed out of those buildings, or I've been misinformed.

Well, as I mentioned it's covered under the MSER 2005 - so it is an offence to enter the site. However, it's also an offence for BAE to not properly secure the site, so swings and roundabouts. When I visited, there were no warning signs, a decent hole in the fence about 100 yards from the front gate in plain sight, and I spent three days strolling about without security noticing. No explosives are on the site at all (apart from the residues) - but I didn't go into the new Environmental Test Facility, which is inside a new fancy perimeter fence - I presume there's explosives in there.

The latest OS maps (2005 on I think) show the buildings, but don't mention what the place is.

I kept a close eye out for asbestos - the buildings are wide open to the atmosphere, so there wouldn't be any airborne asbestos, just need to be careful not to kick any up.

 

[spartacus]

Terrific report, Great Pictures.. and a fantastic site

 

[Krypton]

Fantastic Report BC

 

[BenCooper]

Thanks

I've tidied up the Google Earth mapping data:

http://www.catchingphotons.co.uk/ROF_Bishopton.kmz

 

[smileysal]

Excellent history, and write up of the site, and excellent pics Ben. You've done a fantastic job here.

Cheers,

Sal

 

[Andymacg]

Ben what a fantastic report there youve certainly got an eye for hunting the good spots to photograph

even with my job I couldnt get permission to have a nose about the place,been there several times in the last few weeks to deliver and then collect stuff from the test facility which is as you said well protected

 

[BenCooper]

I can't see them being too keen on giving permission for a wander about - I've seen some pictures from an escorted tour, but that was only around the outside of some buildings...

 

[85 Vintage]

Brilliant report, brilliant pics, just brilliant

 

[Sabtr]

For some reason I've only just seen this thread!

An excellent report Ben and a hugely historic and interesting site. This is definately something I would love to see.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[undeterredham]

Good report dude.

I've had the joy of being allowed onto that site officially, as a participant in an army driving competition last year. I was driving a 110 Rover, and my Nav was frickin hopeless. Spent many hours driving my way round the maze.

A very interesting site, but we were too near the top of the leaderboards in the competition to hang around lookign at things!!

 

[BenCooper]

Seriously? That must have been really cool

Makes BAE's "this is a really dangerous site" argument look even more silly, though - well, that, and they filmed bits of Taggart there...

 

[sheepie]

epic i love this stuff best thread i read yet and now i have had a thought about another site

 

[BenCooper]

Ardeer? Aye, that's worth a visit too

 

[swedish]

This looks massive, must have been a really decent explore. really good report & some very interesting shot.

 

[BenCooper]

Biggest urbex site in the country I reckon

 

[Marley85]

That is the best put to gether report iv ever seen and fantastic pictures to. brillent mate abselutly brilliant.