Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
BEST VIEWED FULL SCREEN - This is the first of three videos showing the surviving buildings of the former Phillips & Powis - later Miles Aircraft - factory at Woodley, all designed in 1938 by the modernist architect Guy Morgan and officially opened by the Air Minister Sir Kingsley Wood on 29th January 1939.
Filmed on 10th August 2022, just a few days before Thermal Management Solutions reluctantly closed down this well known engineering site after ending production of automotive engine parts at the end of July. The aerial views in this opening video show the front of the factory's distinctive 'art deco' headquarters building facing Headley Road East with extensive 'Machine and Fitting Shops' plus 'Stores and Quarantine' behind'.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our grateful thanks to the management and staff of Thermal Management Solutions for allowing us to make this video record of these historic aviation buildings at this critical time'.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Phillips & Powis Aircraft (Reading) Ltd formed in 1928, opened Woodley Aerodrome and a flying school in 1929 and began aircraft design and manufacture on teaming up with F G and 'Blossom' Miles (Britain's first woman aircraft designer) in 1933. Initially specialising in wooden light aeroplanes and air racing machines, the firm achieved unprecedented success in the 1935 King's Cup Air Race. A leading producer of modern monoplane training aeroplanes for the RAF from 1936, the company's increasing success required almost continual factory expansion and a £2M Air Ministry order for an initial 500 Miles Masters in 1938 was the largest ever contract for a British training aircraft at the time.
To prepare for mass production, besides expanding its production facilities and building a new HQ beside Headley Road East in 1939, P&P also introduced Britain's first 'Moving Track Assembly Line'. Renamed Miles Aircraft Ltd in 1943, the company already had a reputation for ambitious and innovative private-venture projects including the M.52 supersonic jet research aircraft (cancelled in 1946 by the government just before completion).
By the time the business entered receivership in 1947-48, just over 6,000 Miles aircraft had been built at Woodley and another 1,115 at other factories - a remarkable achievement in just 14 years. Restructured as a general engineering company in 1948, it was progressively renamed Western Manufacturing Estate Ltd, Adamant & Western and then the Adwest Group.
The latter gradually redeveloped and sold off most of the old airfield and factory for housing and other commercial uses before its remaining pre-war premises were taken over by Magal Engineering then by Arlington Automotive who recently sold the site to Goya Developments. All buildings were occupied until 12th August 2022 by Thermal Management Solutions to manufacture and supply a wide range of components to the motor industry.
© Compiled by Julian C Temple, Aviation Heritage Connections, 21/08/2022;
BEST VIEWED FULL SCREEN - This is the first of three videos showing the surviving buildings of the former Phillips & Powis - later Miles Aircraft - factory at Woodley, all designed in 1938 by the modernist architect Guy Morgan and officially opened by the Air Minister Sir Kingsley Wood on 29th January 1939.
Filmed on 10th August 2022, just a few days before Thermal Management Solutions reluctantly closed down this well known engineering site after ending production of automotive engine parts at the end of July. The aerial views in this opening video show the front of the factory's distinctive 'art deco' headquarters building facing Headley Road East with extensive 'Machine and Fitting Shops' plus 'Stores and Quarantine' behind'.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our grateful thanks to the management and staff of Thermal Management Solutions for allowing us to make this video record of these historic aviation buildings at this critical time'.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
Phillips & Powis Aircraft (Reading) Ltd formed in 1928, opened Woodley Aerodrome and a flying school in 1929 and began aircraft design and manufacture on teaming up with F G and 'Blossom' Miles (Britain's first woman aircraft designer) in 1933. Initially specialising in wooden light aeroplanes and air racing machines, the firm achieved unprecedented success in the 1935 King's Cup Air Race. A leading producer of modern monoplane training aeroplanes for the RAF from 1936, the company's increasing success required almost continual factory expansion and a £2M Air Ministry order for an initial 500 Miles Masters in 1938 was the largest ever contract for a British training aircraft at the time.
To prepare for mass production, besides expanding its production facilities and building a new HQ beside Headley Road East in 1939, P&P also introduced Britain's first 'Moving Track Assembly Line'. Renamed Miles Aircraft Ltd in 1943, the company already had a reputation for ambitious and innovative private-venture projects including the M.52 supersonic jet research aircraft (cancelled in 1946 by the government just before completion).
By the time the business entered receivership in 1947-48, just over 6,000 Miles aircraft had been built at Woodley and another 1,115 at other factories - a remarkable achievement in just 14 years. Restructured as a general engineering company in 1948, it was progressively renamed Western Manufacturing Estate Ltd, Adamant & Western and then the Adwest Group.
The latter gradually redeveloped and sold off most of the old airfield and factory for housing and other commercial uses before its remaining pre-war premises were taken over by Magal Engineering then by Arlington Automotive who recently sold the site to Goya Developments. All buildings were occupied until 12th August 2022 by Thermal Management Solutions to manufacture and supply a wide range of components to the motor industry.
© Compiled by Julian C Temple, Aviation Heritage Connections, 21/08/2022;
