RAF Wyton Photographic Factory - Urban Exploration in Cambridgeshire
RAF Wyton Photographic Factory
Where - Cambridgeshire.
Visited - November 2007.
RAF Wyton was home to the Strategic Reconnaissance Force after WW2. More information about the base's history can be found on Wikipedia
The recon role of the base wound down in the 1990s and is now used for logistic purposes. This change in purpose meant that the photographic facilites were no longer needed.
The "photographic factory" now lies derelict outside of the base. It was sold in 2002 for redevelopment, but nothing seems to have happened since then.
Externals
The photographic factory at Wyton is a relatively simple one storey building. I say "one storey" - it is built on a slope so it's about 1.5 stories. It is nearly the shape of a T, but a huge boiler/plant room adorns the west wing.
Internals
The last 10 years have not been kind on the building's interior. The paint on the walls is peeling. The floors are sketchy in places. Ceilings are collapsing. Windows & toilets smashed. This amount of destruction is quite surprising considering the remote location!
Development areas
The main development room is, as per the rest of the building, pretty smashed up. There was evidence that sinks used to grace this room, but they've long-since gone. Six processing rooms were attached to the main room, each via a small blacked-out corridor (the doors have been smashed off - they now lie on the floor of the main room).
Random signage
A few signs remain, one would imply that the building was used for the last time during 1995. I'm not sure why there was a mattress store there either.
Your Comments
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Posted 23 January 2008, 00:50 From brendadada
Stunning wide angulation there. Is it possible to get inside?
Posted 23 January 2008, 00:50 From brendadada
Pff, silly me, so it is.
Posted 28 January 2008, 14:50 From paul evans
I am sure I spent some time working in this building when i served at RAF Wyton between 1984 and 1987. I was a Cpl supplier attached to the Air Movs Section which was "transferred" across the road and into the "Old Photo Factory"
Posted 28 January 2008, 15:20 From paul evans
Can remember this corridor - we only used part of the building but i am sure this area below the steps used to be office space.
Posted 28 January 2008, 15:50 From paul evans
It was so pleasant being able to sit outside in those lazy hazy summer days when we were not working so hard , of course!!
Posted 9 February 2008, 22:40 From Sean Edwards
Does anyone know if this building was used during the War??
I went up there in January 2008 and took a few pictures, great site!
Posted 12 February 2008, 20:30 From Paul Evans
Sad to see the place looking so run down
Posted 21 March 2008, 00:00 From James Mulcahy
Ah, the factory! Hundreds of photographers slaved over hot developer and cooled their drinks in cold fixer. We marched from the airmens mess after breakfast, in column of threes, and halted outside the 'servants' entrance for a roll call and inspection. We worked feverishly in darkrooms - the lucky ones had little red safelights the others in panchormatic green or....utter darkness....then the blessed Sally van arrived and the factory emptied for tea and marmite buns. Eyes squinting the moleys sat on the grass supped tea and smoked fags for fifteen minutes then back into processing or printing or chemy mix or polishing the corridors. GS and BP's under the gentle hand of Chiefy Snow or the glare of Flight 'Bag'o buns' Buckley. Then detatchments to the four corners of the globe with 58 squadron - Kenya, Cyprus, Lybia, Australia, Canada, Singapore. I've been everywhere, man. Air surveys, secret missions, maps, new air forces, whingeing national servicemen, institutionalised long term regulars. We were the best and saw it all.
They probably can't redevelop the site because the ground is saturated with sodium hypochlorite and blue-grey ghosts. Walk away from it. Let it tumble. It is holy ground.
Posted 1 April 2008, 16:40 From Will
Nice angle and exposure. But im interested in whether or not i need permision or anything to go and shoot there. See im doing a photography project on abandoned buildings and have been lots of places but would like to go there i wondered if i needed permision or not? Also is there still a working airfield there, because i looked on google earth and it looked used still? Any advice would extremely helpful if you email it back to me.
Posted 16 April 2008, 20:10 From J Y Kelly
I worked in this building in 1979. About half of it was given over to the RAF (UK) Mapstore, supplying maps and charts. Although there was some photo processing equipment in the building, it was no longer in used. Over on the other side of the building was the Ground Photo Section and the Police Dog Section was in the same compound. The RAF (UK) Mapstore closed in 1981
Posted 4 May 2008, 00:00 From Allen Jackson
This looks a very interesting location for a shoot. Like Will asked in his post of 1 April, I would be most grateful if you could let me have via email more information on access and exact location relative to the airfield. Thanks
Posted 24 June 2008, 10:10 From Robert Pilcher
I was stationed at RAF Wyton from Arpil 1962 to Jan 1963 and worked in the Photographic Processing Building. I worked in the film developtment room as part of a 3 person team on a CPU, Continuous Processing Unit. Processing aerial films of over 250 feet long, each negative 8.5x7inch. A most important period of this year was during the Cuban missile crisis in October when we all were put on x3 shifts in a 24 hour period. The aircraft at the time were 543 Squadron Valiants and 58 Squadron Canberras I am not sure when the building was built and opened.
Regards,
Rob Pilcher
South Australia
Posted 14 September 2008, 15:50 From sy
I'm from the local town of st ives and back in the early 80's i attended a evening at the local air cadets which was held at the old Photographic Processing Building. Back in the 60's my father was an air force fireman on the base. I have cycled past there a lot of late and they have built a new junction for the Photographic Processing Building area as though they are going to do something with it but nothing has happened as yet.
Regards
Posted 4 November 2008, 15:40 From james Blackwwod
In reply to Sean Edwards question posted on 09 Feb 08. The Photo Factory was not used during the war (I'm assuming you meant WW II). I am looking at two WW II aerial photographs of Wyton. One was taken in October 1942 and the area where the Photo Factory stands is a field. However, ground scarring was noticed and an access road was under construction. The second image taken in March 1944 shows an area containing a number of accommodation type Nissen huts and larger group of huts which may be a dining facility or canteen/NAAFI. Sean, this should answer your question.
Regards.
Posted 18 February 2009, 20:10 From terry connolly
I worked at the factory in 1960 as a photographer developing and printing photographs taken by the V bombers. The rooms look so bad in your photographs i was told because the site was bought by a local farmer after it shut down and a group of gypsys settled in the ground for some time. I have many good memories of the tin mine,it was a great place to work.There was hardly any bull just hard work with nice people.
Posted 7 May 2009, 08:00 From sam
great photos, is there any one who can advise me on the location of this as i live about 5 mile away from wyton and would love to have a look around without going to the wrong place and end up with a bullet in my ass
Posted 6 September 2009, 16:10 From Bob (Jock) Webb
I Worked in the Photo Factory in 1961/62 and was i/c of the discip office,Flt lt Grimshaw and W/O Ball were there at this time. Also Bill Taylor (we are still in touch)was in the Film Library. Does anyone remember our two civilian cleaners one was called Eb? Does anyone remember me or Bill?
Posted 13 September 2009, 06:10 From Robert Pilcher
Hello, Bob [Jock] Webb.
Please check out my post 24 June 2008 I was in the Photo Factory from April 1962 to Jan 1963. I remember Flt lt Grimshaw and P/O Butler-Davis. I think I remember a W/O Ball. Some names when I was there.
John Plimmer, Alan Bryant, Taff Povey, C/T Rocket,
Dave Gorman, Reg Poore, Pete Cook and Jock Ross.
I am not sure if I remember you.
Regards,
Rob Pilcher
South Australia
Posted 24 September 2009, 16:30 From Bob (Jock) Webb
Hi Rob Pilcher,
Your name rings a bell but can't put a face to it. Thanks for the names,I remember P/O Butler-Davis also Reg Poore who was billeted with me in what I remember as A block,Allan Bryant also rings a bell. The other civilian cleaner was called Jim. I can't believe it is almost 50 years ago, thanks Rob you have brought back some memories.Bob.
Posted 25 September 2009, 04:20 From Robert Pilcher
Dear Bob,
Thanks for your reply. At the time I was there I was called Bob, a photographic assistant AC2, until I left to complete my Photo 2 Course at Wellesbourne Mountford. I was on the very last course there. After graduating I was posted to West Raynham. I was also in A block, opposite the NAAFI and Corporals Club. Yes 48 years ago. I had a good time there, The Three Jolly Butchers in Houghton, Brampton, St Ives etc. Some more names. Wally Stevens, Walter McGrath and Brenton Horst. Do you remember Sqn Ldr Follis. I think he was i/c of all the Photographic areas/sections at Wyton.
Regards,
Rob
Posted 4 October 2009, 19:00 From Kevin Stowe
I was there from 1972 to 1976 when I went to Cosford on my PPA Course (PPA 39).It looks really sad now, especially when I remember the cleaning effort that i put into the place.
Posted 24 October 2009, 17:20 From TONY STORY
What an awful mess ! I ran the Ground Section around 1975, but "lived out" for most of the 18 months I was there. I wish I had taken a few pix then, before it ended up like it is. I do not think many of us thought the photographic trade would be hit quite so hard by the computer age. I think there were around 1800 photographers of one sort and another when I left the service in 1980 - I understand it is down to 200 in total now, as we have lost all the Air photography side.
Posted 24 October 2009, 17:20 From TONY STORY
What an awful mess ! I ran the Ground Section around 1975, but "lived out" for most of the 18 months I was there. I wish I had taken a few pix then, before it ended up like it is. I cannot even recognise the ground section unless the entrance pic is the back/side one shown. I do not think many of us thought the photographic trade would be hit quite so hard by the computer age. I think there were around 1800 photographers of one sort and another when I left the service in 1980 - I understand it is down to 200 in total now, as we have lost all the Air photography side.
Posted 1 November 2009, 18:40 From Dave Kent
Hi - This is a long shot for me but I served on %$£ Sqn just over the road from the Photo Factory a between 1970 - 1975 and I am trying to contact a guy with the surname Freeman - he came from Laarbruch I guess around 1973 - any infowould be grateful
Posted 23 November 2009, 16:20 From Charlotte
Hey, I'm looking into doing some photos here for part of my photography project.
Could anyone tell me how I get access, how to get there and what not?
I don't fancy getting shot down
Posted 11 December 2009, 21:20 From Derek Gare
I drove past the old factory a couple of months ago and the wreckers were in, so a large part of of my early service memories are all thats left. I worked there in the early sixties for a couple of years. I worked at Wyton from 97 to 05 as a civil servant and watched the factory deteriorate slowly,but then thats the story of the RAF too
Posted 14 December 2009, 16:40 From Frank Eckert
Hot in the summer cold in the darkrooms lots of happy memories in this place
Posted 19 February 2010, 17:20 From Dave Proud
Dave Proud Jnr Doing some delving for his dad based at Wyton 63 68 fire fighter / ground crew not expecting much, he was known as Geordie, if any boby can help or give some names please
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