Report - RNAD Ditton Priors (Shropshire, Mar, 2020)

[MotionlessMike]

What is the red 2 door mazda?

It's an Opel Manta B GTE I think. Beautiful!

 

[wormster]

Not bad I always perfered the long boot sports version!

back in the day a mate of mine had one: 2l, gas flowed, satge 2 head, big carbies and airbox , big boy exhaust, about a bazillion return springs on the throttle, caged inside, forest springs, fast road tyers, rally looming for me in the left hand seat, hella gligts up front, bash plate underneath etc.....etc..... bit of a rally weapon, in the right hands, my guy was a bit of a tool unfortunatly, I soon moved onto hilman imp single seater, sprint hillclimb monstar after the folks gave me a spare one!

 

[VDUBJack]

What is the red 2 door mazda?

I think you will find that is an Opel Manta !!

 

[VDUBJack]

Nice pictures dude !!! those T25's are mega rare :[ sad to see them rot away but hey ho also they aren't actually called T3's for anyone wondering the beetle was the Type 1 the Bay and Split was the Type 2 then there was also a small beetle like vehicle called the Type 3 you could get them in notchback, fastback & squareback they had Type 1 beetle engines in hence why they couldn't call it the T3 or Type 3 and the actual name is T25 but enough of my classic Volkswagen knowledge thank you Mr Urbanchemist for your Report and photos lovely work pal

 

[Bernard O'Connor]

After a morning milling around Ludlow, I dropped in here on the way home because it seemed interesting on maps.

Current aerial view and the 1973 OS below - some of the woodland on the northern edge has since been felled.

Looking it up, this was a Royal Navy Armament Depot, and there are two previous 2014 vintage reports:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/rnad-ditton-priors-oct-2014.92546/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/royal-naval-armament-depot-ditton-priors-jan-2014.93664/

Description: The site operated from 1938 - 1968 for ammo storage and consists of 70+ sheds, some with blast walls, originally connected by rail with many smaller structures dotted about (see the reports above for more history).

The thing to realise about this place is that it’s not remotely secret or secure - these days it’s mostly an industrial estate operating out of the decaying WW2 era sheds, although some sheds out in the fields now serve as farm buildings.

All the sheds on the industrial estate are locked and in use for something, and the ones that aren’t locked just contain rubbish (tyres, cars etc.).

The only derelict/empty bits are the smaller buildings. However there’s also a nice derelict house hidden in the woods which hasn’t featured before.

First some sheddage.

Many of them have enamel signs starting with ‘L.C.E’ - maybe someone on here will know what these are about.

A number of structures which seem to be combined latrine/changing room.

Other small things.

Plenty of fire hydrants such as this one.

A little signal box.

This was probably a farmhouse called Little Leasows, It was built in 1887 according to the date stone, but I can find no other information.

Not very exciting perhaps but a nice wander on a sunny spring afternoon with the dog.

Wow. To have had to chance to get archival footage, well done.
I'm thinking of writing up a booklet to ensure the history of the place and its staff is not forgotten. I hope to include, if possible, people's memories of the place. Might I be able to use yr pics duly acknowledging you in the intro, with each pic and in the bibliography? Thanks.
Bernard

 

[urbanchemist]

Wow. To have had to chance to get archival footage, well done.
I'm thinking of writing up a booklet to ensure the history of the place and its staff is not forgotten. I hope to include, if possible, people's memories of the place. Might I be able to use yr pics duly acknowledging you in the intro, with each pic and in the bibliography? Thanks.
Bernard

Fine by me.

 

[MK83]

I missed this report, love the 2 vw t3's.

 

[Bernard O'Connor]

After a morning milling around Ludlow, I dropped in here on the way home because it seemed interesting on maps.

Current aerial view and the 1973 OS below - some of the woodland on the northern edge has since been felled.

Looking it up, this was a Royal Navy Armament Depot, and there are two previous 2014 vintage reports:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/rnad-ditton-priors-oct-2014.92546/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/royal-naval-armament-depot-ditton-priors-jan-2014.93664/

Description: The site operated from 1938 - 1968 for ammo storage and consists of 70+ sheds, some with blast walls, originally connected by rail with many smaller structures dotted about (see the reports above for more history).

The thing to realise about this place is that it’s not remotely secret or secure - these days it’s mostly an industrial estate operating out of the decaying WW2 era sheds, although some sheds out in the fields now serve as farm buildings.

All the sheds on the industrial estate are locked and in use for something, and the ones that aren’t locked just contain rubbish (tyres, cars etc.).

The only derelict/empty bits are the smaller buildings. However there’s also a nice derelict house hidden in the woods which hasn’t featured before.

First some sheddage.

Many of them have enamel signs starting with ‘L.C.E’ - maybe someone on here will know what these are about.

A number of structures which seem to be combined latrine/changing room.

Other small things.

Plenty of fire hydrants such as this one.

A little signal box.

This was probably a farmhouse called Little Leasows, It was built in 1887 according to the date stone, but I can find no other information.

Not very exciting perhaps but a nice wander on a sunny spring afternoon with the dog.

Great photos. Can I use some of them in my documentary history of RNAD?

 

[urbanchemist]

Great photos. Can I use some of them in my documentary history of RNAD?

OK by me

 

[KPUrban_]

Nicely done. Liking the Opel Manta and Cows

 

[Loopster]

I visited here a couple of weeks ago. 3 hours spent and only scratched the surface. Nothing more of interest to add…. The vehicles and the house are still there!

 

[jezzyboo]

interesting site good write up and pics

 

[Skyline_UK]

Wow. To have had to chance to get archival footage, well done.
I'm thinking of writing up a booklet to ensure the history of the place and its staff is not forgotten. I hope to include, if possible, people's memories of the place. Might I be able to use yr pics duly acknowledging you in the intro, with each pic and in the bibliography? Thanks.
Bernard

Poignant to see such dilapidation. My Dad worked at RNAD Ditton Priors between 1961/1963. He was with the Admiralty (used to work at Bullpoint RNAD Plymouth) and we'd just returned from a posting in Simonstown, South Africa, training the dockyard staff in how to operate their ships and facilities - part of the deal under the 1959 Simonstown Agreement and SA becoming a republic. We were housed in one of a clutch of creosoted clapboard single story 'huts' down the road. Not so bad as it sounds! It was an idyllic countryside playground for us youngsters. But we had a long bus ride to school in nearby Bridgnorth. The huts aren't there anymore, although were last used as emergency accommodation for some US troops in 1968(?) when De Gaulle kicked NATO troops out. I may have a couple of photos, and memories to help your project. My email: [email protected]

 

[blackmetallic]

A DVLA check on the opel Manta - basically, whoever bought it new in 1984 and didn't sell it, nor tax it after August 1993

 

[marky]

A DVLA check on the opel Manta - basically, whoever bought it new in 1984 and didn't sell it, nor tax it after August 1993