Longbridge Underground Factory - Part 1

[@paulvamos7319]

Thank you for the tour IKS: Ian and Chris! Do watch where you step, wouldn't want to lose one of you down a deep shaft! I always took a long stick/staff with me for that reason!👍 Good explore and I watched part 2 first because, it is longer and I prefer the longer ones.

[@brianludlam9765]

So glad that no vandals or idiots have found this place, thanks for doing what you do

[@Bell_the_Cat]

Remarkable level of preservation, considering it's bloody wide open at the end. Incredible, great works chaps.

[@539Productions]

Incredible to see all of the old equipment left behind there!

[@dandesjardins2552]

Wow what an Exploration ,well done iks it looks huge. also lots of Golden Gems for sure

[@kevinshales1380]

Outstanding, so nice to see so many original fittings and not covered in graffiti! Can't wait for part 2

[@DerrieNiall]

was a pleasure taking you to see this place ian :)

[@IKS-Exploration]

+Abandoned World was amazing mate thanks very much indeed :)

[@seanbrennan4447]

Another great video.Just like to say thanks for all the effort and time that goes into making such quality videos to keep us all entertained.The time it must take to go on location,film,and edit the footage as well as going to work etc,your days must have a lot more hours in them than mine.Hats off to all the exploring content makers that are here for doing such a great job creating all this historic and interesting exploring videos .

[@rosscityofliverpool.983]

outstanding part one, all in such great condition and let's hope it all stays that way, a great job from all of you, big thanks and now looking forward to part two......

[@20kilovolt]

10: 09 cool this is a 10.000 Volt (10Kv) distribution transformer that can provide electricity for a large residential area. 10: 40 no not batteries its a potential transformer for the big meters kilovolt and ampere. 11: 45 is a rectifier it changes Alternating current to direct current voltage to charge the 150 volt battery sequence. 23: 30 cable sleeve connection

[@zmxl1020]

Great to see so much of the electrics intact. @9:26 the bin in front of the coal furnace is a powered stoker, saves a person having to shovel coal into to furnace manually. Great explore. Thanks for posting.

[@kernow..exp.]

wow what a great video the preservation of the electricity room is unbelievable it should be turned into museum or kept sealed so nobody can trash it kind regards from Mark in Cornwall

[@riccioxborrow3061]

Cool Ian nice

[@brantleyhickerson2441]

careful around all that lead paint. I cant thank you enough for all the videos. I love history and anything about the past. So very cool that you do this. I'm in the states, but I would love to tag along on a adventure. Looks amazingly fun!! Thanks again for making and posting. Very, very cool!!

[@brianartillery]

What a fantastic site. I was amazed at how well it was preserved. Some of that lining looks comparatively new. I was rather amused when you were looking round the 'Power Room', and you were admiring those frankly beautiful dials, and that 'Frankenstein's lab' switch, and one of you said about putting them in the boot of your car... Because you are so very conscientious about preserving the past, it would never happen, but at least, if you had, I know that you would have looked after them and removed them with care, and not just smashed them up. That's one of the reasons that I really enjoy your content - it's always interesting, fun, and you do it properly, leaving only footprints, and taking only pictures. this was a brilliant explore, and I can't wait for part 2 - Shadow Factories and Ammunition Storage sites are a bit of a favourite subject of mine, especially the ones converted for a slightly more sinister use in the Cold War. Nice one, Gents.

[@B3tanTyronne]

The noise in there when it was active must have been incredible with the various equipment going at the same time - yet another great video :)

[@misterspitfire6564]

So good to see a place that hasn't been vandalised or covered in graffiti. Great video. (A strange thing though - that newspaper with the date 13th May 1965 - I was born the very next day!)

[@poppy5525]

Mega! ! Thanks fella

[@ianmacpherson2409]

Hats off to you guys for your intrepid searching. The people who worked in these tunnels were very dedicated I am sure. The tunnels are wide but must have been crowded when in use.

[@JAY61ish]

EXCELLENT EXPLORE(again) Great to see one in bloody good nick... love the plant rooms.. lovely transformer .sometimes filled with oil to keep them cool..

[@davidmorris631]

Hello IKS, i really enjoyed watching your video it was very good. Thanks for sharing.Kind regards David.

Virgin untouched territory, great video guys. Those toilets at the end reminded me of Trainspotting when Renton needs to take a crap and walks into the worst toilet in the world. That looks even worse! Those ww2 tunnels are always fascinating to explore. This one looks in great shape in most places

[@fibrodad1354]

superb, hope your mate was ok, that pole looked like it got him good.

[@Lennymcgra]

It's a good wander this place, some nice shots be had when we visited, there's a bunker there as well.

[@thegrantclan]

Fantastic video really enjoyed 🔦🇬🇧

[@simonbenton5872]

and another great vid guys..

[@plaggy7]

Great video as usual chaps.

[@nellennatea]

This video came into my recommendations. I really liked it and I subscribe for more. Thanks for exploring and sharing.

[@johngriffiths6934]

Amazing video again guys can't believe the history just underneath our feet great history

[@marksmanlynch5569]

Great place this been there myself again another great video :)

[@brianartillery]

Is Chris using the blue torch you found in that AA site shaft in December?

[@IKS-Exploration]

+brianartillery yes he is lol still working ;)

[@nidaauto]

Amazing find, didn't realise places like this still existed

[@joshstacey9859]

WOW... what a great tunnel, it looks like a museum (shame as you say in the description that there are now houses there). i didn't even see any pink paint!!! thanks for sharing this wonderful location and im looking forward to part two

[@marty51213]

Amazeing it's great to see the gauges in the power room still intact,only just catching up on the video's as been away on a few days holiday

[@damianjones7554]

another very interesting complex, shared to my Facebook

[@raymondj8768]

thanks for a nother great video i love all the michanical stuff im into that stuff thanks so much and that light kicks ass you have for filming !

[@oldmanhuppiedos]

What a huge tunnel complex. The energy is almost Intack that is unique. Because here copper thieves are engaged.

[@19CW86]

These videos are so damn awesome, I wish that someday I could experience the same. Keep on filming!

[@arw2008]

Reminds me of the shadow factory in Drakelow tunnels.

[@terrym3543]

Would it be too much to ask for you to add some kind of hand drawn map for the tunnels and bunkers give an idea of how they're laid out. I've seen you do that once in awhile and I really like that. Hope you keep it up I enjoy them.

[@MrGuvEuroman]

You need to start filming in 360! Then we can look round :D

[@IKS-Exploration]

very soon folks :)

[@0815germany]

still watching. Looks nice down there :)

[@muckdiggermarcus8440]

Another awesome video!!! Thumbs up guys. So would love to come with you on one of these😀

[@IKS-Exploration]

This place has been locked up right now folks :(

[@67daffy]

Hude tunnel system, given the conditions of some equipment and those dated newspapers does that suggest cold war usage as well?

[@freedomvigilant1234]

The modern electrical outlets would support that hypothesis.

[@General_Confusion]

Cracking video guys. Because of the fluorescent lighting i think this might have been a munitions machining workshop, without any actual explosives in it, as there is no protection against sparks from a broken tube. I believe the two battery banks in the sub station were 50 volt back up battery cells for a telephone exchange. I'm pretty sure i have seen some pictures of a site like this on Sub Brit or something like that with the place full of woman workers on the lathes and machines. It stuck in my mind because i had always thought that fluorescent tubes were something like a 60s invention, but the pictures i saw were of war time production and the lights were there. It looked exactly like this but packed to the gunnels with metal working machines.

[@TopAbandonedPlacesURBEX]

Great vid Ian

[@CaptainBash737]

Excellent, interesting stuff. Thanks for making the effort with these videos. 👍🏻

[@mischef18]

Great vid bro with a lot of history in there. ATB

[@abuubaydullah1]

Fascinating so wide and how did they get all the real heavy equipment in there?

[@redsinsaneurbex7691]

Great work!

[@ExtremeBogom]

Amazing history and In such good quality.

[@NottsAndDerbyLHG39-45]

it would look good as a museum, looking at the UKs underground facilities

[@Systemrat2008]

The item at 23 minutes is a cable termination. They used armored cables where bitumen covered steel wire which covered a lead sheath and then oil (perhaps PCB based) soaked paper wrapped copper conductors. The termination was a gland fitted around the cable and typically three phases where feed out to the switch gear. A failure mode of these cables was if the oil leaked out at the lower end of the run there was a good chance the cable could explode if it arced internally.

[@AverageJoe2020]

Just mineral oil not PCB.

[@AverageJoe2020]

And if you strip the lead sheathing back there is a strip of paper with the manufacturers name and date on it, I'm a fan or PILS SWA cable, I should get out more...

[@stuartthegrant]

Now this is a good one, most interesting.

[@RobDavisTelford]

Did you ever get around the huge underground facility at Monkton Farleigh? I had three visits there, but it's closed now.

[@MegaBmwdude]

Agree a good video

[@MichaelRichards-nc3fj]

I worked in these tunnels in the 1960s refitting the lighting system, there were old Austin models going rotten at the time just forgotten.

[@IKS-Exploration]

Wow that’s crazy do you have any interesting stories folk ?

[@sme70]

Thanks for the time you spend making vids .You are saving history by making these videos

[@mike.fontainfontain6496]

I used to work in those tunnels back in the 70s the Leyland or Austin as it was known back through the last two wars did not make munitions only planes,vehicles and ancillary parts munitions were made at the old baa factory on golden hillock Rd. Ps the gear in the Leyland have now been totally gutted by the pikes.

[@stephengibbs731]

Amazing

[@quasarhi]

Massive ! Chris ok we hope

[@spikeriches8821]

I live in the same town as HMS Forward, the people who's houses r above it r responsible for the section of tunnel underneath there property. One house owner has stopped the tunnel being opened because he doesn't want to get sued If someone gets hurt in his section of tunnel. that may be why bits are blocked off

[@IKS-Exploration]

+Spike Riches interesting :) thanks for sharing:)

[@kells77]

Is this where the planes were made or just engines Would love to see it n it's working state

[@dwavernmason8077]

Iam going to guess engines to small for full aircraft production.

[@General_Confusion]

At the peak of the scheme in the 1940s, there were 26 shadow factories operating in Britain, producing munitions and parts for war vehicles and aircraft. Only another 25 to find then Ian, should keep the vid's coming for a while yet.

[@Aiath86]

That place is in amazing shape. Hope its protected.

[@phillipvanniekerk4727]

The Tunnels which are sealed might have some artifacts behind them they decided to seal off?

[@danielclift1]

that be ideal for a workshop get loads of cars and tools in there

[@huxter1]

some of the tunnels that are blocked off may still have the machinery behind the wall that is or was top secret

[@nathandean1687]

clean them up. add more of the correct fiuld let them stabilize and your good to go.

[@serenatyvfr]

Damm just damn it is so good to see you a place that has not been interfered with all graffiti just love these would love to visit but I understand you can't give locationsout because of people destroying these places but what I find thanks for sharing this

[@aserta]

First bricked section, that's proper bricked up. See the smaller brick profiles? That indicates the wall is at the very least as thick as the length of one of those bricks. That's nearly resistance wall thickness (for bricks) and those aren't standard bricks either. Someone really didn't want people going in the other side.

[@AverageJoe2020]

Them the are concrete blocks on face so, 4" high and 9" deep and 18"wide, If that makes any sense?. J.

[@AverageJoe2020]

Or improper ones....

[@jameschang8122]

how big was that place

[@DJAsHeRMusic]

wow that place is incredible the toilets looked well creepy

[@josztroutfishingdiary7350]

the walls between the stalls are huge. never seen anything like it, a brick sh-thouse, for sure!

[@matthewwalker8197]

can tell that this was used in the second world war and the cold war since some of the things around are in better condition than others.. i wonder when this closed down.. i reckon 80s maybe or near to when the cold war ended or around that time :) great video as always.. fantastic place and im quite jealous to be honest looks amazing :)

[@korboismywaifu]

I wish there were places like this to explore in Canada.

[@MegaCorey1977]

Wish you could show you entering everything. Not location but the actual entrance.

[@scotts.2624]

10:12 guaranteed to be full of PCB laden oil. No one in their right mind would touch that. The fine for releasing that stuff is much higher than the price of the copper scrap in it.

[@mattperrin8372]

Just wondering about the ownership of some of these sites, are they mostly still Government owned or in private owners hands now ?

[@AverageJoe2020]

Almost all are private ownership, The Ministry of Defence started selling off sites like this in the early 1970's, There are a few still retained, some used, but mostly mothballed, Shame I can't talk further.

[@mattperrin8372]

Average Joe Thanks for the reply. Wonder what people paid for these when they went up for sale ?

[@AverageJoe2020]

From memory I think that Monkton Farleigh Mine sold for about 70k in 1974-ish, that was a biggie at about 1.131 Million square feet of floorspace within a complex of around 200 square acres, My memory of the figures is a bit sketchy Iv'e not had anything to do with the place for over 20 years, Was fascinating though. If you're interested in these places I can highly recommend you look up books by Nick McCamley (published by Folly Books), Cheers, J.

[@mattperrin8372]

Average Joe Cheers for the heads up, I'll look the that up.

[@AverageJoe2020]

No worries, Fascinating subject.

[@DiggingCanuck]

Do you ever encounter people in those tunnels ?

[@IKS-Exploration]

+Digging Canuck Metal Detecting not really its strange thought considering all the places we go to lol

[@DiggingCanuck]

Exactly......thanks :-)

[@English.Andy1]

Try not to worry about asbestos to much. It won't harm you if you leave it alone. My old man use to ban saw the ruddy stuff back in the day & is ok.

[@karenbrown4524]

Andyb2379 My Dad drew plans for submarines during the Cold War era. What he actually DID was classified and took all details with him in death. When he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, he did however talk about being subjected to plumes of asbestos "on board ship". In the 60s and 70s (80s?), of course, industries didn't realise the hazmat issues of asbestos, as everyone knows now. He passed with a most mean and angry case of the lung carcinoma, and I'm certain all his coworkers and buddies did as well. Sorry to pop in on conversation, but the topic of asbestos always reminds me of my Dad and an era gone by.

[@josztroutfishingdiary7350]

they've known about the hazards of asbestos before the 60's.

[@karenbrown4524]

Good to know.

[@20kilovolt]

in 1898 were the first reports that asbestos could cause severe lung diseases watch?v=5yz4H_7JFQo

[@karenbrown4524]

I don't think my Dad or his work unit received the asbestos dangers at all. But that's very interesting that the ills of that substance were known way back then!

[@yucouncoun]

It is asbestos ?????

[@L_Llama]

amazing place mate! very interesting topic indeed :D

[@sidewayzlawd810]

Why hasn't the government properly maintained these bunkers? Wouldn't it be an addition to do so if it were actually needed incase of an emergency?? It just Seems like a waste letting them deteriorate, From a military perspective?

[@stacieodstacieod9555]

when the were build there were no computers every thing was done by hand! Some of them are 80 years old. If they were needed today I think it would not take long to put them online!!

[@richardwarnock2789]

Massive place did you have proper boot's then!, truely dedicated Folk's Lol!!!; )

[@christopher-2000]

cool

[@DaveHorgan.]

Got a keen eye on the graffiti in the gents, 'Tony 31,8,86.' lol. That's 9 days after I was born and also my dad's birthday 🤣

[@nathandean1687]

wdf those batteries are still there.

[@scotts.2624]

20:01 One day the videos stop. For awhile until one dies the victim of cannibalism and the other dies with mortal regret; the duo cry out for help and pound on the freshly welded plate they find has closed the opening they came through several hours earlier.

[@JAY61ish]

definately a drop side from a wagon

[@thetrespasser7880]

the mud is actualy clay that was used to put out fires

[@IKS-Exploration]

+the trespasser that's interesting thanks for sharing :)

[@JAY61ish]

You should do a "blackout" to show folk how dark and dangerous these places are if you go in unprepared.

[@JAY61ish]

only for A minute.lol

[@jameschang8122]

you guys could have used golf carts in there

[@AverageJoe2020]

My guess is those areas are sealed off to contain large amounts of asbestos insulation. J.

[@AverageJoe2020]

And it's mostly "Brown" asbestos, not the worst stuff, and in that high humidity won't be airborne, Nice 11Kv switch/metering gear, Did you look at the makers plate on the transformer? was it Permitol filled? Rare to see 110v glass battery back up systems intact, Did you find the back up generator? The same fluorescent lights were used at Westwood in wilts.

[@dearbornerik]

you found a wood pellet feed stove

[@JAY61ish]

Cable joint.

[@DJRoach520]

is this in town or out in the back country? and why has no rich baster bought it and fixed shit... hell i could live in this

[@alaalpha9940]

#holethere Yeah, im sorry but you falling over things makes me giggle.

[@alaalpha9940]

24.39 - omg...Chris, that is spectacular.

[@alaalpha9940]

By the way #kickedacowpat is the best, for some reason i now use that phrase in day to day life, it means "i gone fuked up"

[@alaalpha9940]

+Stephen M Chris and Ian are not idiots, they dont take risks. And im laughing with them, not at them. Im pretty sure they add these things in because they are funny... its not like they are 12 year olds and getting views from violence to themselves or others, they are explorers who now and again trip over or in chris's case, appears to of rewritten the "stood on a rake" gag...and you know what? Its funny. No ones hurt.... no ones dying...no problem.

[@MrSteve6343]

Sorry but I think it is not worth the risk, just moving and disturbing the environment in these places is too risky. You may scoff but it's 20 years on you will possibly have problems, you should suit up with proper protection and use a decontamination unit to clean down. Just going home in the clothes you wear could pose a health risk to your family members. . Brown Asbestos Brown asbestos was frequently used as a thermal insulator into the late 1960s and for insulating boards until the late 1970s, when its health risks became better understood and its use was restricted. Also known as amosite, brown asbestos is one of the deadliest varieties of asbestos and has been banned in most of the developed world since 1985. Blue Asbestos Blue asbestos, or crocidolite, was used for insulation lagging and sprayed coatings, for thermal insulation purposes as well as fireproofing. This type of asbestos was also banned in many countries in 1985, and is the most dangerous to human health. To summarise, You have no clue as to what you are getting inside your lungs. You are disturbing deteriorated material and its airborne just disturbing it. I enjoy the adventure but it is not always the obvious safety things like a trip or bump that is the real issue. The same would apply for say a place which is radioactive you can't smell it or see it. So what air quality checks and tests do you do to ensure you aren't killing yourselves. You cannot just say oh it's damp we are ok.

[@DJAsHeRMusic]

they will be fine the only people that get trouble from it are people who worked with it (By making stuff with it/by demolishing it) it is far to wet in most places they go for it to be problem and in some videos they do wear protection from asbestos they are carefull