An Appeal for Help

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An Appeal for Help

Sir,

Since summer 1986, a detailed recording of the industrial archaeology of the entire Brooklands site (particularly the former British Aerospace factory) has been carried out by staff and enthusiasts on behalf of Brooklands Museum Trust. Before everything outside the

Museum site completely disappears under a major new development programme, the Museum welcomes any comments from interested individuals, organisations and societies to ensure that nothing significant has been missed during recording so far. In particular, we seek information on specific motoring and aviation buildings (especially the Itala Works and the pre-1919 Vickers premises) which anyone considers worthy of detailed recording for future generations. Any other statements about the importance of specific features of the site, including photographs and any interesting anecdotes relating to past events, are also sought.

Brooklands Museum already has extensive Brooklands archives for the pre-World War Two period, but we now feel this is perhaps the last major opportunity to appeal for further contributions to our archives specifically about the site itself.

The fact that Surrey County Council’s Planning Committee have recently instructed their officers to consult local residents and companies based on, or adjacent to, Brooklands about a proposed Brooklands Conservation Area reinforces the importance of this unique site — the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation.

I shall be most grateful if anyone with further information could contact me at the address below with the ultimate objective of producing a definitive site plan of Brooklands’ historic past.

Incidentally, guided tours of Brooklands Museum during its preparations for public opening in 1991 are available by prior arrangement with Mrs Diana Bedford at the same address. JULIAN C TEMPLE Curator of Aviation & Industrial History, Brooklands Museum Trust,

BrookIhnds Road, Weybridge, Surrey.