Shirley Spitfire Trail

Following on from our visit to the Solent Sky Museum, we set out to walk the Shirley Spitfire Trail, which is right in our neighbourhood! This is a trail, created by Spitfire Makers which connects some of the sites at which Spitfire production continued after the Supermarine factory in Woolston was destroyed in September 1940.

The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust has been unveiling commemorative plaques at several of these sites from March 2022 onwards. So we decided to follow the Shirley Spitfire Trail, consisting of eight sites, five of which have a plaque.

First stop, Shirley Parish Hall. Fuel tanks and air ducts were made here.

Then to 18 Wilton Road, where two sheds were likely used for storing parts. No plaque (yet?) at this site.

Third stop, Shirley Retail Park, where the Sunlight Dye Works and Laundry used to be, which was then used as a fitting shop.

Next door, where Halfords now is, was the Hants & Dorset Bus Garage. Wing jigs were made here.

Stop number five, Holybrook Stores, where a row of huts served as a finished parts store, playing a vital role in supply of parts to other sites.

And then on to site six, currently occupied by The Range and a Shell petrol station, but Seward's Garage used to be here and this is the site where Spitfire fuselages were made.

Next site, number seven, St James Close, which is where parts for the propellers were made. No plaque here. 

And then the final site on the trail, St James' Church. No construction site for Spitfire parts here in the past, but there is a black marble memorial to the 'Spitfire Sweethearts' here

There are a few more plaques further afield in Southampton (plus, it appears, plans for another 30 or so), and we'll definitely seek these out when we have the opportunity.

The spread of Spitfire production is also covered in a documentary and a book, both called Secret Spitfires. I haven't seen the documentary, but have ordered the book.