GOB and Methods
building
(Watch
a Video at the end of the article)
The long
building on the Lickey Road was built in 1931 as a Service
Department for Austin owners. After the War the Service Department
moved to the Flight Shed in Lowhill Lane. The building then became
mainly used as an office for various departments, this is how it
got its new name General Office Block (GOB). The end of the
building by Lowhill Lane housed various staff and management
canteens, along with the Post Room and the Telephone
Exchange.
Lowhill
Lane End
This brick
building shown here was another canteen. and the corrugated
building had many uses, such as the publicity stores, pilot plant
for the making of the foam seats for the 1100 models. In the later
years the brick building became Methods Build, preproduction builds
of the new models before production started, they only did the
vehicles that would be made at Longbridge. The corrugated building
became the Chassis Development for all new models in 1970s, they
then moved to the Flight Shed in the late 1980s and at this point
methods expanded into the space. The last models that were built
there were the New Mini in 1999/2000, which were going to be built
at Longbridge but ended up at Cowley.
Methods
Building
Main South Staff Canteen
Other
end of the GOB
This
view shows the bridge that connects to the Kremlin
Click on the Play Button to see a Video