Bamburgh Castle Aviation Artefacts/Armstrong Museum

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Member for

11 years 9 months

Posts: 1,326

Visited this interesting little museum a few days ago. It is housed inside the beautiful Bamburgh Castle in Northumbria which is owned by the Armstrong family of Armstrong-Whitworth fame. The displays feature a range of aero-engines, components and wreck site recoveries including Spitfire Mk I L1037 and parts of a Warwick. It's a lovely little museum in an excellent setting and makes a great day out.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0324_zpsrpagawku.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0321_zpsppadcrzg.jpg

Next two sections from Warwick VI HG136 -

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0317_zpsk10fshjr.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0316_zps0msdenie.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0309_zps7j6fgswa.jpg

Propeller from a German aircraft (Me110 or Ju88 possibly) -

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0298_zps8e37am1v.jpg

Crankshaft and prop hub from Whitley Mk I T4151 -

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0276_zpskwwvgfvx.jpg

Cheetah from Oxford L4597 -

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0272_zpsnga36eon.jpg

Merlin from Mosquito T.III LR565 -

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/mmx16/Bamburgh/DSCF0261_zpsnzr45qvw.jpg

Original post

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 1,085

It's a lovely little museum in an excellent setting and makes a great day out.

Yes indeed, visited it summer 2014, and was surprised to find so many artefacts so well presented, and to keep the wife/family happy they've got the rest of the castle to look around ;-). I meant to post a thread with a few shots myself, but never got around to it....

If anyone is in Northumberland, then Bamburgh castle is well worth the visit anyway, and the aviation section is an added bonus for aviation fans.

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 564

The Northumbrian countryside and beachs are pretty good too!But as I come from thereabouts I am a little biased!!!

Member for

19 years 4 months

Posts: 1,085

The Northumbrian countryside and beachs are pretty good too!But as I come from thereabouts I am a little biased!!!

WL745 That is an understatement and a half, the beaches and countryside are stunning, and so unspoilt (and I don't even come form the area!)...but shhh, don't tell everyone, or they'll all come and trample all over it!

In Summer 2014 we loved taking long evening walks on the southern end of the immense sandy expanse of Druridge Bay most evenings where we enjoyed epic sunsets and stunning views right up to Coquet Island, but barely saw another soul..... and even in school hols places like Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and Holy Island didn't feel too crowded. If I were you I'd want to keep that 'patch' all to myself.

Member for

17 years 4 months

Posts: 1,970

We visited the castle and associated aviation museum last September, both are well worth a visit

John

Member for

17 years 1 month

Posts: 564

Lord Armstrongs house is nearbye at Rothbury,first house in England to be lit by electricity and it was Hydro!!!Thanks to him and WW1 my gran escaped domestic work and ended up in one of his munitions factories and thus became an independent lady!!!!

Member for

24 years 8 months

Posts: 10,029

The Spitfire remains of L1037 are behind glass and not easy to photograph due to reflections from windows in the wall opposite.

I resorted to draping a coat over my head and camera while my wife held the coat against the glass. It worked. :)

A couple of shots from May 2014

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%202/1-L1037%20Bamburgh%20Castle%206%20May%202014%20Peter%20Arnold%20393A8293b_zpssv4fonbi.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%202/1-L1037%20Bamburgh%20Castle%206%20May%202014%20Peter%20Arnold%20393A8310a_zpshusia5yf.jpg

Member for

18 years 9 months

Posts: 271

A Polarizing filter would have helped there Peter, and you wife could have relaxed!

Steve

Member for

11 years 9 months

Posts: 1,326

The Spitfire remains of L1037 are behind glass and not easy to photograph due to reflections from windows in the wall opposite.

I resorted to draping a coat over my head and camera while my wife held the coat against the glass. It worked. :)

It certainly did work! That's a very good tip thanks :) The ones I took of that display are pretty awful to say the least - the reflected windows are the clearest thing in them!

I totally agree with all the comments about Northumbria - a very beautiful, scenic part of the country which we really enjoyed visiting.