IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Jubilee Road, WORKINGTON, CA14 4HB

A view of the entrance to the former Leyland National factory at Lillyhall, with the Vehicle Test Centre in the distance, behind the gatehouse. The factory site is now partly used by Stobart Haulage.

A lineup of most Leyland Nationals which attended the Leyland National 50 event with a back drop of the former test building where all these vehicles would have passed through prior to dispatch from the plant. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

Now in rather a forlorn state, this trig pillar is at the former British Leyland factory at Lillyhall, Workington, famous for production of the Leyland National single deck bus. The pillar is clad in Skiddaw slate, and has the flush bracket number 11392. Underneath the British Leyland emblem, the inscription reads: THIS BENCH MARK WAS SET UP BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE RT. HON. HAROLD WILSON O.B.E. M.P. TO INAUGURATE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACTORY ON THE 20TH FEBRUARY 1970. The factory had an area of 420,000 sq ft and initially employed 300 people, eventually manufacturing over 7,000 Leyland Nationals. The factory closed after being taken over by Volvo, in the early 1990s, and is now partially used by Stobart Haulage as a warehouse. Further information and photographs of the site from the past six years can be found at: http://trigpointing.uk/trig/7511 Nearby, Workington Transport Heritage Trust own several buses manufactured at the former Lillyhall plant, see http://www.wtht.co.uk/ Sadly, in June 2018, the pillar was found badly vandalised and the slate inscription stolen.

The oldest 'National' in attendance at the Leyland National 50 event. New in February 1973, it was the fourth Mark 1 vehicle delivered to Cumberland Motor Services. GRM 353L is seen here in the grounds of the former Leyland National factory at Lillyhall, now in part occupied by Eddie Stobart haulage. After 49 years, it has returned to where it was built. I travelled on this vehicle to the nearby Lakes College from Whitehaven before collecting my car and driving to the factory to take a final series of shots. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

A photo call for the Nationals attending the 'Leyland National 50' event. The shot features 16 of the 18 vehicles which attended the event, one sadly having broken down a short distance away at the Lakes College. The building behind the vehicles is the former test building at the Lillyhall works where all of these vehicles would have passed through before entering service. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

The entrance to the office block at the former British Leyland bus factory at Lillyhall has seen much better days. It is captured here at the finale of the Leyland National 50 event whilst Lillyhall-built buses were having a photocall in the factory grounds. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

A 1979 Leyland National bus, owned by Workington Transport Heritage Group, on display at the Energus Site, location for the Group's 'Built In Workington' event, to celebrate buses constructed at the former British Leyland factory, a few hundred metres away. This vehicle also undertook regular services along nearby roads as far as Whitehaven, via Distington, on the day. Further details of the vehicle, and indeed the Trust can be found at http://www.wtht.co.uk/leyland-nationals.html

A lineup of three Leyland National buses, all manufactured at the former Lillyhall British Leyland factory a few hundred metres away. These vehicles (and others) were brought together for the Workington Transport Heritage Group's 'Built In Workington' day. Further information on the trust can be found at http://www.wtht.co.uk/

A lineup of 'Phase 2' Leyland Nationals outside the former Lillyhall bus factory at the close of the Leyland National 50 event in the Sunday late afternoon. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

Whitehaven plate stone by the A595, in parish of Winscales (Allerdale District), by the road. Lost since 1970. Milestone Society National ID: CU_WHWO06.