Lower Ford Street

This one could've gone in a few threads as it covers quite a few street, though Lower Ford is visible. The backs of the properties on Godiva Street are visible in the foreground. Obviously pre-Ring Road but I don't think it's too long before. You can see the old Raglan Glass Works.

Is this Lower Ford Street? Loving the GEC gates. That's the Graham Sutherland Uni Building in the background.

Francis Barnett gates?

I have, today, driven through those very gates. But not at that location. They are on a private estate near Pailton

The house on the left is number 11, which would fit with the telecoms works on the south side of Lower Ford Street. Francis Barnett was a very short distance off to the right.

I should have said, the gates were, at that time, used by Lea Francis

Yes, I'm sure they were originally Lea Francis, however if you look closely in that image it says GEC Telecommunications Ltd, Private Systems Division.

As my memory is a bit vague, I am almost sure they were always GEC. The building to the right, the gate house. Next to that was a builders yard with offices and a newsagents. Now you get Francis Barnett with big double wooden doors. The motorbikes were only really tested at night time. As kids we used to watch them coming and going. One came back with smoke pouring out from the engine, they did manage to put it out.

As with many businesses it depends when you're talking about. When businesses are expanding they might swallow up a neighbour and in turn may release buildings they no longer need or can afford. scrutiny's description matches the 1950 map.

I was born in 1948 just across the road at no 30 LFS. I Used to play in the sand at a very young age in the builders yard. When it was clocking off time you stayed away from those gates otherwise you would get mowed down with the flood of cycles coming through them, five minutes later you could not see one of them.

You tell it as it is, Scrutiny, That makes it so sweet.

They keep turning up! Another from Dean Nelson.

Another cracker from Paul Stevenson on FB. LFS looking west towards the Alexandra/Fleapit, May 1969. The Ring Road is just going up in the background.

I remember the Alex very well, Neil. Also the other 'fleapit', the Plaza - although I don't remember catching anything from there.

My dad could have been one of the cycling stampede. He worked there in the Jobbing Shop from 1938 but I think he moved to the Model Room at Copsewood sometime about 1948. I believe he said GEC Lower Ford Street was the Radio Works when he was there. The Francis Barnett was further along to the right, on the bend. I remember looking inside when the doors were open in summer and seeing the engines being assembled ~1956. Wiki says the plant closed in 1962.