Comments on: Cardington Airship Hangers

By: Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O'Brien — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:53:38 +0000

Drove past them on Saturday, they are quite amazing. I was aware of them as a kid, but never quite knew where they were. A visit to Bedford FC revealed all, as the ground is very close by.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want shot of them, they have a beauty all of their own, and it was excellent to see one of them looked in particularly good condition.

I would also echo some of the comments here – would love to have a little tour around them! When we drove past on Saturday we couldn’t get all that close with the car, which is fair enough I suppose. I was pleased to see a sign for hybrid air vehicles whose website has a little video of a modern-day design flying – great!!

My late father had the good fortune to fly on one of the GoodYear craft in the 1970’s when tethered for one of its regular visits to Leavesden airfield, and he treasured the memory forever. Does anyone else remember the GoodYear ‘blimp’ as it was known (don’t know if the word ‘blimp’ is technically correct!)

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:10:54 +0000

In 1946 I appeared in a photograph standing along side the open doors of the R101 shed and published in the Bedford Record (a local paper). Unfortunately I do not have a copy.

During the middle 50s the Parachute Balloon Traing Company used the shed for training purposes. Parachute decents were made inside the shed.

The shed, which is Grade 1 listed, is noe owned by the Building Research Establishment and I understand that is up for sale When last repainted I believe it cost £600,000.

By: robert hooker

robert hooker — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:10:52 +0000

hey candy i start work at the hangers on monday they are used as make shift film studios and one of them still has part of the batman set in it come and have a look any time just ask for rob hooker on construction

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:45:50 +0000

I went to visit the sheds in the mid 1980’s, when Airship Industries were still producing the Skyship 500 & 600 Series.

Don’t know if any of you are old enought to remember the FUJI advertising blimp, but that was stored in one of the sheds, being worked on.

Went in a side door, and the size is mind blowing, and cannot be described! I was told that next door, some government agency had built a block of flats, and were testing some fire prevention equipment. It was 0ver 20 storeys high!

My dad was alive when the R101 flew over Leicester on one of its tragically short test flights. He said it was like watching Leicester Town Hall fly over (similar size). I’d love there to be a revival of the old sized airships, but filled with helium (obviously!!) Anybody got a spare $60m?

A Boeing 747 can fit through the main doors with no problem. Apparently, they have been known to have their own weather system inside (ie foggy when it’s clear outside)!

A real pity access cannot be allowed – there is disagreement as to who actually owns the sheds and the surrounding area (lots of leases were taken out, and the one taken out by Airship Industries has become a minefield as they were taken over by Westinghouse when they went into administration, and nobody bothered to sort it out.

If anyone does have any info on how to gain access, please let me know as I want to pay another visit.

By: Alan Hardy

Alan Hardy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:07:18 +0000

Yes, saw them from the air the other day on the way back to Manchester Airport from Italy. No idea what height we were at but guess about 20,000 feet in our 757 and I pretty-much knew when I saw the buildings that they very well could be the R101 hangers. Nice to find this site that very well covers the big old things. Must watch out for them from my East Midlands train when I’m in the area next.

By: Candy

Candy — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:41:54 +0000

I’ve just come back from Bedford and drove past these amazing buildings – they are colossal and I – like may others – would love to take a closer look! I’m so glad they are listed buildings.

By: happysam

happysam — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:24:25 +0000

I visited the outside of these amazing buildings a couple of days ago. I hoped it would satisfy my intrigue over the places but infact it has made me even more interested in seeing inside them. If anyone knows of how I could get a visit sorted out please let me know.

There is no way they should be pulled down, they have a certain charm that new building rarely have.

By: andi

andi — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:49:44 +0000

Me and a frien of mine kept driving past these huge buildings, and were so curious we drove up to them and sneaked into the fence which was torn open(honest, not me!!!) , we managed to look inside the older building. Could not comprehend the sheer size, amazing place! so want to find somewhere where you can fly in airship….

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:56:29 +0000

I pass these every day going to and from work. I looked on a road map to see what they were I was so intrigued. I think it’s fantastic that they are now preserved – people are too quick to demolish older buildings these days. I see them from the main road and they look huge – they must be enormous up close. The airships must have been massive too – I had never really thought about that before!

By: raider71

raider71 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:14:22 +0000

We live in the new estate opposite. When we were looking at show homes a couple came in and asked if the sheds were going to be demolished – when they were told no they walked out. We on the other hand thought they were and are fantastic. I can just wonder what it was like back in the old days… there was a modern airship moored out side yesterday – imagine how impressive R101 or R100 would have been…