Barnbow

munki · Post by **munki** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 8:36 pm

bigpants wrote: Tony wrote: Fascinating stuff, thanks for the link and the idea RIKJI've done a couple of quick and dirty bits with the old map: excellent work there tony, seeing the old map superimposed over the google earth image has really opened my eyes. i spent so much time down there as a kid and never realised the extent of the factory site. im amazed by how clear the old rail loop still is as it runs round Amaranth cricket ground. have printed off the old map and dug out my trusty os map and will try and get down at the weekend armed with the camera. Im quite exited as it will be my first proper secret leeds expedition! This is so good, that people are actually going out & looking at stuff because of our site. You don't know how pleased this makes me feel!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Tue 13 Mar, 2007 9:13 pm

The battle of Winwaed was supposedly fought along the cock beck between King Penda of Mercia & Oswiu of Benificia where King Pendas men got slaughtered. The point of carnage is supposedly along Cock beck near the old railway bridge on Barwick rd. The anglo Saxons were a bit hot headed by all accounts! A good possible location for ghost army sightings?? There's a bit here about it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Winwaed

wsmith · Post by **wsmith** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 3:24 pm

Someone in my office dug these pics of two Barnbow memorials out.

wsmith · Post by **wsmith** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 3:25 pm

wsmith · Post by **wsmith** » Fri 16 Mar, 2007 3:28 pm

& some of the girls from Barnbow.

jf · Post by jf » Sat 17 Mar, 2007 10:17 pm

I remember seeing tanks on the test track at the new (now closed) vickers factory from a passing train. I believe this site was closed and the remaining site in the north east retained, partly because the NE site was in the constituency of a prominent government minister.Was there any development on the south side of the Leeds-York railway? There appears to be the formation of a triangular rail junction immediately south of the later tank factory (at 53.8042833903n, -1.43100196415e) - I've noticed this from the train previously (there is a slight embankment to a level track at the same height as the adjacent line). On Google earth this appears to head towards an area of woodland where it possibly splits again, with one branch curving to the south east towards Barrowby Lane. There are some circular marks in a Field by Barrowby Lane, but these appear to overlap so i am not sure what they could be (possibly just agricultural patterns). The field is at 53.7992569204n,-1.42483354614e. There are some more prominent marks in the field to the north of this. I know there were mines this side of Leeds (Temple Newsham area), so perhaps it was something to do with that?I think we might have some historical maps covering the munitions factory area at work, I will have a look on Monday to see if anything interesting is shown. In general facilities like these were omitted from contemporary maps for reasons of security, so there might not be anything useful there.

rikj · Post by **rikj** » Sat 17 Mar, 2007 11:53 pm

I can see what you mean about those lines/tracks to the south, but I can't see where they would be heading. The land to the south of the Leeds/York line looks as if has always been agricultural.The old Leeds/Wetherby line is very visible on google earth and looks quite different to the remains south of the tanl factory. However, as you say, they do look remarlably like old railway lines. The curves are just what you would expect from a mainline.Intriguing!

Phill_d · Post by **Phill_d** » Sun 18 Mar, 2007 2:15 pm

Hi Jf. I don't think there were any tracks running towards Barrowby lane. There used to be two sidings into Barnbow though. One entered the site from the Leeds-Wetherby line closed in 1966 although i don't know when the last time the tank trains worked in from there. There was also a siding that connected from the Leeds-York line & was still visible in the 80's. If you have a close look on Google earth you can just make out an old buffer stop & you can see a severed part of pointwork on the main running line. I'll upload this rather amateurish image where the 2 lines used to go. I hope it helps!!! I also think the area to the north is the long embankement section near Longs factory? I can't work out what that is either....

20522tay · Post by **20522tay** » Sun 18 Mar, 2007 11:35 pm

Whilst looking on the internet I found this page which tells, some of the History of the factory, how quickly it was set up, the fact that the shells were made in Armley and the fact that 35 girls were killed in a explosion on the 5th December 1916. Apparently there was a dairy farm on site to produce milk for the girls.http://www.historic-uk.com/historyuk/en ... lasses.htm

bigpants · Post by **bigpants** » Mon 19 Mar, 2007 10:02 pm

had a poke about round the old barnbow site at the weekend and took some photeys. will sort out a hosting account somewhere (flickr or simmilar) and post a link. I took a copy of the old map with me which was linked on here and with the aid of this it all made much more sense than when i played down there as a kid. I can confirm that unfortunately the reservoir is no longer accessible - i believe it is still there, but that the access hole has been filled in and topsoiled over. theres quite a bit still to see, so im going to go back with chris90 from the forum and have a better look. Also discovered that my better halfs grandma and my mothers best friend both worked there.