Avro

On the banks of the Rochdale Canal stands a testament to Manchester’s industrial and aviation heritage: Avro. Originally Brownsfield Mill, this Grade II listed building has witnessed a fascinating transformation. Avro began its life in 1825 as a Victorian mill. Later, it became the birthplace of A.V. Roe & Company. This was Britain’s first aeroplane manufacturer. Alliott Verdon Roe founded Avro in 1910 within these very walls. The company’s full name, A.V. Roe and Company, was established on January 1, 1910. Alliott partnered with his brother Humphrey Verdon Roe. Humphrey managed the finances and operations, using profits from the family’s webbing business. He held this role until 1917 when he joined the Royal Flying Corps. Alliott had already designed a successful aircraft, the Roe I Triplane. It was nicknamed “The Bullseye” after one of Humphrey’s brace brands. Imagine the early days of Avro here in Manchester. The Avro 504, initially produced in 1913, became a cornerstone of flight training during the First World War. The company’s production extended to other locations like Hamble, Failsworth, Miles Platting, and Newton Heath, building over 8,000 aircraft over two decades. Avro’s significance goes beyond training aircraft. The company played a vital role during the Second World War. The Avro Manchester, Lancaster, and Lincoln bombers were designed and built here, contributing significantly to the war effort. The Lancaster, renowned for carrying the war’s heaviest bomb loads, was manufactured in large quantities. Nearly half of the 7,000 Lancasters produced were built at Avro’s Woodford and Chadderton sites. Another 700 were built at a “shadow” factory near Leeds. Avro continued to innovate after the war. The civilian Lancastrian and Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft were derived from the Lancaster. The Avro Vulcan, a delta-wing bomber designed for nuclear strikes, became a key component of Britain’s Cold War defense. It even saw conventional service during the Falklands War in 1982. Today, several Vulcans are preserved as museum exhibits. Avro also produced the Avro 748, a twin turboprop airliner used by airlines and governments worldwide. Avro’s legacy lives on, not only in the preserved aircraft but also within these very walls. Now transformed into modern apartments, Avro offers a unique blend of history and contemporary living. The building’s industrial character, with its exposed brickwork and cast iron columns, provides a tangible link to its past. Living here, one can’t help but feel connected to the pioneering spirit of Avro and its contribution to aviation history.