The Bob Jordan Collection Historical Postcards, Photographs & Memorabilia of 1900's Yate & Surrounding Areas
Photocopy of a map Yate in 1920 showing some the key manufacturing facilities. The map shows the National Concrete Slab Factory adjacent to Yate Station complete with its own elevated tramway that transported stone from the nearby quarry to the south west of the factory. It also shows The R.A.F. Aircraft Repair Depot ARD), with the Aircraft Repair Section (ARS) to the west (later Parnalls) and the Engine Repair Section (ERS) (later Newman's) to the east with the aerodrome in-between along Station Road. Yate Chemical Works can be seen on Eggshill Lane between Sation Road and Westerliegh Road.
Scan of an original aerial photograph looking east of the various trading estates and railway network in Yate in 1974. The Beeches Industrial Estate is in the foreground to the north of the River Frome. Stover Trading Estate is in the centre flanked by Badminton Road in the east, Stover Road to the west (right in the photo) and North Road to the north (left on the photo). Badminton Road Trading Estate is in the south (top right of image) which is sandwiched between Badminton Road (A432) and the main Gloucester to Bristol railway line that runs North - South (horizontally in the image). Westerleigh Common (A.K.A. Yate Common) before major tree planting and rewilding is to the south east (top right of the image). The rein or brook that drains the common can be seen diagonally crossing the common lined by bushes and the football pitches on the playing fields segment of the common can be seen top centre. Sunnyside Playing Field with football pitch, which was home to Yate Town Football Club at this time is seen adjacent to Westerleigh Common in the top centre of the image with Parnalls factory opposite to the north on the other side of Station Road (A432) with many of the original aircraft production facilities running adjacent to the railway line. The remnants of Yate Railway Station and the Goods Shed can be seen just the south east of the junction of Station Road and North Road. The Thornbury branch line can be seen looping round from Yate junction, over North Road and in the foreground of the image to the north of the very new looking Beeches Trading Estate. Newmans Factory can be seen in the extreme top right of the image north of the adjacent to Station Road with the carpark clearly visible. Finally, Westerleigh Road can just about be seen running horizontally across the entire top of the image.
Aerial photograph showing the industrial areas of Yate with Badminton Road Trading Estate, Stover Trading Estate and Beeches Industrial Estates in the centre of the image. The main Gloucester to Bristol railway line is seen running diagonally from the bottom right to the centre of the left edge of the image with the above mentioned estates located just above (to the west) of the line. To the east of the line, running adjacent to the track is the site of Parnalls factory. A tree-less Westerleigh Common is also adjacent to the same railway line but more to the south (left). Newman's Factory is in the bottom right of the photo next to the wing of the aircraft that took the photo and Westerleigh Road can be seen heading south from the factory along the eastern boundary of the Common. The main London to Swansea railway line running east to west can be seen on the left hand side of the image. The Thornbury Branch Lane can be seen snaking out of Yate Station to the west then north until exists the image on the middle right edge of the image. Badminton Road (A432) can be seen heading west out of Yate passing through Coalpit Heath to the upper middle centre of the image with Frampton Cotterell adjoined to its right (north). The River Severn that separate England and Wales can be seen to the west in the top right corner of the image which the main London line passes under via a tunnel.
Hay being loaded either onto or off a railway wagon at the sidings at Parnall Factory adjacent to Yate Railway Station and market. Most probably it's local hay that is being sent by train to the war front in France for the war horses.
Murray Dowding photograph of the National Concrete Slab Factory adjacent to Yate Station complete, in particular its elevated tramway that transported stone from the nearby quarry to the south west of the factory.
Murray Dowding photograph of the National Concrete Slab Factory adjacent to Yate Station.
Photograph of three ladies on what is presumed to be Station Road in Yate with the National Concrete Slab Factory in the background including the elevated tramway that transported stone from the nearby quarry to the south west of the factory.
Prefabricated slab manufacturing factory in Yate just west of Yate Station during the period of 1913 - 1930's (MD).
Copy of an aerial photograph of Parnalls factory during the early years of WW2
Aerial photograph from at least the early 1940s (prior to the Wapley Inland Sorting Depot - A.K.A. Sea Transport Stores) showing the Yate Aerodrome with the runway running diagonally across with Parnalls factory in the foreground and Newmans factory in the centre of the image both linked by Station Road. Yate Chemical Works can be seen on Eggshill Lane that links Station Road with Westerleigh Road which runs more or less horizontal from Newmans Factory to the edge of the centre of the image on the right. Blakeney Saw Mills on Westerleigh Road can be seen opposite the junction with Eggshill Lane. Stanshawes Drive can be seen heading east from Westerleigh Road towards Stanshawes Court. Where the Drive becomes tree lined heading up to the Court there is a small road heading south which went to Stanshwes Farm, where Bob's father was born in 1900.
A photograph of Parnall's factory and the adjacent railway sidings across the road from Yate Station
Photograph of a postcard of the A.R.S. repair depot at Yate on Station Road what later became Parnalls Factory
A photograph from a book in Bob's collection entitled 'Parnall's Aircraft' by Ken Wixey (1998) of an advertisement for the Parnall Parasol Monoplane.
Photograph of the G.4/31 general purpose biplane K2772 making a low pass over Yate aerodrome, flown by test pilot Captain Howard Saint. Powered by a 690hp Bristol Peagus IM3 radial engine. The G.4/31 was designed by H.V. Clarke who replaced Harold Bolas. It was the last aircraft designed and built by George Parnall & Co.
A photograph of an old photo or postcard of the 'Parnall Plover' designed by George Parnall, the man in the image with the trilby hat that was built at his factory in Yate on Station Road
Advert from the Coronation Souvenir programme of 1953 published by Yate Parish Council
Photograph of a cutting of a magazine article illustrating the Parnall Elf aircraft over the Parnall Aerodrome at Yate with the Newman's engine factory in the foreground and the Parnall's factory in the background direcctly underneath the wheels the plane.
Photograph of Bob's late brother Terry, in glasses in the centre of the picture, in the drawing office of Parnalls.
Newspaper cutting from the Evening Post's Bristol Times supplement of February 28th 2011 commemorating the 70th annerversiary of the bombingof Parnalls aircraft works at Yate on 27th February 1941 in which 54 people were killed and 105 injured.
Ochre Chemical works at the former site of the Eggshell Lane colliery. It's possible that celestine was processed here too.
Copy of a photograph (E & T Wilson) of Yate Chemical (Ochre) Works in Eggshill Road just after a fire at the factory in the early 1930s from the book; 'Childhood Memories and Reflections of North Road, Yate and Surrounding Area by Glenys Hale'.
Photograph of the Ochre Chemical works at the former site of the Eggshell Lane colliery.
Photograph of the demolition of Yate Chemical Works on Eggshill Lane in 1961 with Westerleigh Road in the background.
A photograph of Blakeney Saw Mills on Westerleigh Road, Yate, opposite the junction with Eggshill Lane probably taken in the 1960s or '70s.
This is a photograph of an old photo that Bob has in his collection. Blakeney Saw Mills on Westerleigh Road, Yate, opposite the junction with Eggshill Lane takes in the early 1950's.
Extract of a 1920s map showing the Women's Royal Air Force (W.R.A.F.) Hostel on Westerleigh Road opposite Eggshill Lane and the Yate Chemical Works. The location of the camp suggest that this was the later site of the Saw Mills. the similar side and shape of the hostel buildings match to some extent those of the later saw mills suggesting that some may have been utilised by Mr. Blackney but this is unclear.
Advert from the Coronation Souvenir programme of 1953 published by Yate Parish Council
Copy of a Murray Dowding (MD) postcard of the Headquarters of the Royal airfare Engine Repair Section on Station Road Yate what later became Newman Industries
Original photograph (not postcard) of the Newman's small engine shop floor in their factory on Station Road Yate.
Photograph of the nursing / rest room Newsman's factory in Yate in approx 1963
Original photograph (Desmond Tripp of Bristol) of Newman's Motors staff at their Yate factory in a photoshoot celebrating breaking into the U.S. market in the early 1950's.
Copy of a photograph of staff of Newman's Pattern Shop in Yate in approx 1953
Photograph of Newman's factory on Station Road in Yate
A copy of a photograph of what looks like a Murray Dowding postcard (MD) in a book that Bob helped compile with the Yate & District Oral History Project entitled 'Photographic History of Yate' (2012) of Newman's factory workers leaving work at the end of a shift in the 1950s.
From the Alan Jordan Collection (Bob's nephew), this photograph captures the end of the afternoon shift at Newman Industries. The exit to the car-park stands where the junction of Eggshill Lane and Station Road and is taken from outside the old Co-Op (now Tesco Express). The site of the car park is now Mow Barton. At the time (early 1980’s), Newmans, like many other major employers, operated a network of bus services exclusively to provide their employees transport to/from work. The end of the shift would often see the car park empty of all cars and numerous buses and coaches within a 10-15 minute period! This particular afternoon sees many private cars, including Ford Escort MK1’s, a Triumph Herald and Talbot Avenger PDF515M with Eagle Coaches Ford/Alexander GLS 261N exiting the car park on one such route. The bus was new to Scottish operator Alexander (Midland) in October 1974 - seen here in Yate less than ten years afterwards now owned by Eagle - an operator still going strong in 2021!
From the Alan Jordan Collection (Bob's nephew), this photograph captures the end of the afternoon shift at Newman Industries. Part of the Newman’s afternoon mass departure is Bedford VAL/Duple Viceroy NDF 210F. The exit to the car-park stands where the junction of Eggshill Lane and Station Road and is taken from outside the old Co-Op (now Tesco Express). The site of the car park is now Mow Barton. At the time (early 1980’s), Newmans, like many other major employers, operated a network of bus services exclusively to provide their employees transport to/from work. The end of the shift would often see the car park empty of all cars and numerous buses and coaches within a 10-15 minute period!
From the Alan Jordan Collection (Bob's nephew), this photograph captures a Ford/Plaxton Panorama of Buglers Coaches departing Newman Industries ate end of the afternoon shift. The exit to the car-park stands where the junction of Eggshill Lane and Station Road and is taken from outside the old Co-Op (now Tesco Express). The site of the car park is now Mow Barton. At the time (early 1980’s), Newmans, like many other major employers, operated a network of bus services exclusively to provide their employees transport to/from work. The end of the shift would often see the car park empty of all cars and numerous buses and coaches within a 10-15 minute period!
Photograph of Newman Light Tractors on display at their factory in Yate (Source F. White)
From Bob's scrapbook, a newspaper cutting of an article about the demolition of a 40 foot high water tower at the old Newman Industries site in Yate. The deluge of water released included lots of small fish that no-one knew were in the tank - some of which were saved. Its believed that fish or fish eggs unwittingly ended-up in the tank when the tank need to be filled from the nearby River Frome.
Photograph of grain been loading onto a truck at the Cow Mills on Station Road Yate.
Bakery in Chipping Sodbury believed to have been taken on October 9th 1903 (MD)
Photograph of Westerleigh Hat Factory
Photograph of the hat factory in Frampton Cotterell taken in 1972
Photograph taken in 1972 of the Windmill Tower and chimney stack at Frampton Cotterel
Photograph of Algar's Mill on the River Frome in iron Acton taken in 1971
Wickwar Brewery near Yate posted May 31st 1905 (Powell).
Advert from the Coronation Souvenir programme of 1953 published by Yate Parish Council
Photographic copy of a postcard or photograph of the staff of Ernest J Tily, Building Contractor of Chipping Sodbury
Copy of an advertisement in The Official Guide of Yate, Glos published in the 1950s or 60s. The War Office became the Ministry of Defence in 1964.
This version was of September 1964
Advert from the Coronation Souvenir programme of 1953 published by Yate Parish Council
The Forge on Station Road, Yate
1/2
Photograph of 'old Yate pottery' 2/2
Photograph on Bob's collection of a fine example of a jug made at the Yate Pottery.
Photograph of Nibley Mill near Yate, the last watermill to operate in the Frome Valley.
From the January 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate
From the November 1960 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate showcasing one of its export markets
From the March 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate showcasing one of its export markets
From the March 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate announcing their adoption of Telex.
From the June 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate with headlines announcing a record year and exports to 71 countries
From the June 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate announcing a large order for 600 plus electronic indication and control equipment for Russia.
From the June 1961 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate
From the September 1960 edition of "The Newsman' a monthly broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate featuring their operation in the USA as part of their regular export market feature in the publication.
From the July 1960 edition of "The Newsman' a broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate showcasing the success of their exhibition at the British Exhibition in New York 1960.
From the July 1960 edition of "The Newsman' a monthly broadsheet newsletter produced and published by Newman's Industries Limited of Yate showcasing Pakistan as part of the regular export market feature in the publiication.
Extract from a booklet in Bob's collection entitled 'The Rise & Fall of Newman Industries' produced by Yate Heritage Centre

Manufacturing

Industry & Transport

Manufacturing on a modern scale began in earnest after the end of World War I when the ARS and ERS facilities as well as the POW interment camp on Westerliegh road were purchased by existing Bristol based companies to expand their manufacturing capacity by making use of the extensive industrial facilities and infrastructure developed prior to and during World War I.

George Parnall & Company took over the former ARS

George Parnall & Company took over the former ARS and aerodrome adjacent to Yate Station. Between then and 1930 his firm built a number of prototype experimental naval aircraft of their own design. These included the Perch, a two-seat trainer, first flown from their new airfield in December 1926; the Pike, a dual role reconnaissance machine; the diminutive Peto, a submarine-borne spotter plane; the Pipit a single-seat fighter; and the Prawn a single-seat flying boat.

In 1926 George Parnall & Company obtained a contract for the refurbishment of 18 de Havilland DH 9A biplanes for the R.A.F., and this was followed by a contract to build a batch of 12 De Havilland DH 9A dual-control trainers, again for the RAF, while in 1927 they completed a single Imp biplane intended for private or sporting use. This was followed by two Elfs of somewhat similar design, and in 1931 by the Parasol, a research aircraft for the Air Ministry which was capable of testing wing characteristics in flight. 

Another aeroplane designed to meet an Air Ministry specification was the Parnall G4/31, a prototype general purpose biplane, although this was not flown until 1935. Between 1929 and 1934 the company also constructed a few aircraft for other designers, such as two Autogiros, a Hendy 302 sporting monoplane, a small sporting biplane known as the Miles Satyr, and 23 Percival Gull three seat cabin monoplanes.

In 1935 George Parnall sold Yate airfield and the remaining buildings, to Nash & Thompson Ltd. of Tolworth in Surrey, which together with the Hendy Aircraft Company, set up a new undertaking at Yate to be known as Parnall Aircraft Ltd, which was incorporated on 23 May 1935. After building the Parnell Heck, the last of which appeared in 1938, aircraft production ceased as the new company's main interest switched to power-operated gun turrets which were to equip such bombers such as the Whitley and Wellington, as well as the Blackburn Botha reconnaissance bomber and torpedo aircraft and the Sunderland flying boat. Consequently, a large new factory was built alongside the railway line in the south-west corner of the Yate airfield, and this was in full production by late 1939. 

Just prior to the outbreak of war the Luftwaffe's elite strategic reconnaissance group, using aircraft painted in Lufthansa colours pretending to be carrying out route proving flights, secretly flew over a number of potential targets in Britain, and on 29 August 1939 they took a photograph of the Parnall Aircraft factory at Yate. Such images were to be used to help bomber pilots identify their objectives, and the target folders they carried also included maps, which in the case of Britain were suitably re-marked extracts from pre-war Ordnance Survey publications!

As the main producer of Frazer-Nash gun turrets, the Yate works of Parnall Aircraft was an obvious target for the Luftwaffe. Nevertheless, although a total of 19 bomber sorties were flown against the plant by day night and dusk on seven occasions between 1 August 1940 and 22 February 1941, all either failed to locate their objective, aborted their missions, or were brought down by the local air defences. However, on the afternoon of 27 February 1941 the situation changed dramatically when a lone raider finally reached Yate and released six delayed action bombs over the works. The effect was catastrophic, for not only were 53 workers killed and 150 others injured, but considerable damage was also caused to the factory and drawing office.

Amazingly, the same crew returned on the afternoon 7 March, but although on this occasion only three workers were killed and 20 injured, such was the additional damage inflicted that production came to a complete standstill and the Ministry of Aircraft Production immediately ordered the total dispersal of the factory to satellite works established all over South Gloucestershire and North Bristol. In spite of this the Yate factory was soon rebuilt, and well before the war ended was back in full production, employing around 3000 people. They were engaged in manufacturing nose and tail turrets for Lancaster bombers, Spitfire airframes and wing components, for which the firm were the country's largest sub-contractor, as well as Lincoln bomber parts and components for the revolutionary Gloster Meteor jet fighter.

When peace finally returned in 1945 Parnall Aircraft Ltd, quickly severed all connections with aviation, and was re-titled Parnall (Yate) Ltd on 31 May 1946. The undertaking then concentrated its efforts on the production of domestic appliances. Of all the products manufactured at Yate after the war, the Parnall washing machine was perhaps the best known, not only in this country, but in some 60 others around the world. The Thor, a spinner type, was introduced in 1947, and three years later production of the Parnall electric self-emptying washer was started. This proved to be one of the outstanding machines of the immediate post war period, and so great was demand that the Yate factory, which was then employing some 1500 people, needed to have its floor space increased. 

Newman Sons & Company took over the former ERS

In 1934 the Engine Repair Depot section at Yate, also known as the top works, including both Poole Court and the Depot Guard House which had been used as a drawing office by Parnall’s, was sold to Stephen Newman, father of brothers Augustus James and Hedley, who purchased the premises for £7000, prior to moving their electric motor repair and engineering business from Bristol to Yate. Initially known as Newman Sons & Company, in 1936 it became a public limited company and was renamed Newman Industries, by which time it was employing about 200 people.

The old Depot Guard House later became Newman’s Social Club, while the factory itself remained in production until 1988, when its new owners and old rivals, Brook Crompton Parkinson Ltd, closed it down and sold it to Safeways who demolished it shortly after. However, Poole Court, often referred to as the Guest House by Newman’s employees, escaped destruction and was sold to Yate Town council in 1990.

Hollybrook Brickworks took over the first world war POW interment camp on Westerleigh Common at the junction with Stanshawes Drive.

After closure following the end of the war the POW interment camp site went on to become an important part of Yate’s growing manufacturing industry when Hollybrook brickworks moved in during the 1930s in order to expand their production. This was followed by silos and storage manufacturer undertaken by H. Cooper & Sons engineering, which took over after World War Two, the firm having been incorporated in Bristol on 23 March 1953. However, in 2011 it was finally decided to demolish the old 70,000 square feet factory in order to build seventy houses on the site, including a retirement living home named ‘Coopers Court’.

Tagged: Yate