The Old Light Alloy Foundry (by the railway bridge, Osmaston Road) has three hangars full of random ironmongery (is there a titainummongery?), in any order, display/complete/pile of bits, some unlabelled, pre-first-world-war to present day civil giants, mainly aviation (inc rockets) but some auto and industrial/marine, also pictures/photos and models (and a couple of aeroplanes).
If you are really interested you cannot do it in a day so I recommend a short view, an hour-and-a-half, with the anoraks deciding if they want a more detailed return match at another time.
The Science Museum claims the largest number of aviation engines on display in the world, with nearly 100. We have over 150, over 200 if you count the 57 varieties of Viper.
Lunch at some suitable hostelry.
Then the LDC (Learning and Development Centre – R-Rs main training establishment, Moor Lane end of Wilmore Road) which has in it one hangars worth of professionally laid out with captions, another hour-and-a-half (coffee/tea/soup machine and chairs for the faint hearted) and we may be allowed to see the Engine Servicing Training ‘room’ with RB211s and Trents hanging from gantries for Airline Service Reps to practice on.
They are on normal R-R sites so it is normal working day access, Monday, Wednesday or Friday preferable as the Foundry is already open, with people working on various projects although Fridays tend to be fullish for lunch.
I suggest
10:00-12:00 at the Old Foundry (if you leave after 12:00 you mayl get all snarled up in the lunchtime traffic from an adjacent large aviation company)
12:15-1:.45 The John Thompson ,Ingleby, real beer and beef carvery , or sandwiches and soup(not Mondays). It gets full, not be possible with large party.
Other venue – R-R Welfare (sorry Leisure!) Moor Lane (near the MoorWays Swimming Pool on Moor Lane), range of hot and cold cobs, beer, coffee etc..
1:30-3:00 at the LDC.
Can accommodate large parties, but will need to know numbers, may split into dozens or so for tours.
Round the Old Foundry is by personal arrangement, not normally open to the public, round the LDC open to the public but only pre-booked.
Photography is permitted in the Old Foundry.
Remember Rolls-Royce progressively took over most of the British Aviation Engine Industry so here you will find, as well as Rolls-Royce, Armstrong Siddeley, Bristol, De Havilland, Napier, Blackburn etc. and associates – PowerJets (Whittle), Alvis, MetroVic, Rover, Sunbeam as well as international competition – Allison and BMW, (well they were competition once), Ford, Renault, Junkers, Mercedes, Pratt&Witney, Wright.
See heritage on www.rolls-royce.com/about/heritage/ , and some pictures on
www.wetstar.org.uk > RMS Web > Foundry Exhibits.
See also
www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/engineering/SafetyIssues/SafetySpotSep09.pdf
Owing to the vagaries of our postal system the some are on the wrong side of the road but they should get you where you can see it.
SatNav PostCodes
Foundry DE24 8AE Entrance on Osmaston Road
Welfare DE24 9HY Entrance on Moor Lane
LDC DE24 9BD Entrance on Wilmore Road
John Thompson DE73 7HW (It’s the PH before you reach the village – you can’t miss it !! )
Mike Stewart ( 0773 450 4940 )