It will be a sad day for the residents of Woodley as an iconic building, where parts for Spitfires and Hurricanes were made during World War Two, is demolished.
The historic significance of the building, located on Headley Road, cannot be understated, as it holds memories of the brave women who worked tirelessly to support the war effort.
A campaign group has been fighting to save the building, but unfortunately, their efforts have been in vain as demolition workers have already started moving in.
Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected Goya’s plans in June 2022 and the building, first built for Miles Aircraft production in the 1930s, was made a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA). A petition of more than 4,500 names supported the building’s retention.
Historic England (HE) had refused an attempt to have the building given listed status, saying too little of the original fabric of the building remained since it had been altered over the years.
The site will soon be cleared, taking with it a piece of Woodley’s history that will be lost forever.
A spokesman said: “It is a sobering reminder of the importance of preserving our heritage and the sacrifices made by those who came before us. As the old building is torn down, let us take a moment to remember the role it played during a dark period in our history and honour the memory of those who worked within its walls.”
The building in Woodley, used to make the Battle of Britain aircraft, will make way for five modern industrial buildings.
The Adwest building as we all know was formerly the Miles Aircraft factory that still stands proud in the Woodley skyline a landmark that will be smashed apart in the weeks to come.
The factory made nearly 6,000 aircraft during World War Two for the war effort including the Hawk. Many roads on the new estate that was Woodley airfield during the second World War have been named after the aircraft made at the nearby factory – just a little reminder that aircraft were built in Woodley.
You can view some of the local history at the local aviation museum in Woodley which is run by local volunteers.
Photos by Paul King
