Stamp End Works
At the outbreak of The Great War, The Stamp End Works site included the finished engine and thrasher store which had been built in 1912 on land to the east of the original works between the Great Central Railway line to Grimsby and the Great Northern Railway 'Loop Line' that went to Boston. When the Company was awarded a contract for aircraft, they were fortunate to already have this as a suitable building for their manufacture.
Stamp End Works - Aeroplane Shop
The former finished traction engine and thrasher store was used for the construction of Sopwith Triplane and Sopwith "Camel" Scout aircraft. The building was 1000ft by 75ft with a gallery down both sides.
Sopwith "Camel" fuselages can be seen on the ground floor.
National Aircraft Factory No.4
In late 1917, Clayton & Shuttleworth were awarded a contract for the construction of 50 Handley Page O/400 bombers. These aircraft had a 100ft wingspan and were 26ft tall and the Company had no existing building suitable.
The Monks Abbey Works was constructed as National Aircraft Factory No.4, a Government Controlled Establishment, on land that the company already owned on the north bank of the River Witham, and bounded by the Great Central Railway on its northern boundary allowing for a rail connection to sidings.
Handley Page O/400 serial no. D9683 outside the part finished Monks Abbey Works on the 10th May 1918