BORDEN

Up to 1937 the area of land that eventually became the site for the Borden factory was open space, covered in heather, gorse and small trees. Mrs Miller from Ampfield won the Derby in that year with a horse called "Midday Sun." With the winnings she opened Baddesley Aircraft Factory on the site in 1938.

During the war the factory was taken over by Follands who manufactured engine cowlings for Wellington bombers. Various other small industrial sites were started to help the war effort and Baddesley became a haven for the hard pressed people of Southampton who used to camp out at night to avoid the raids on the port.

In 1946 the factory was called St. Christophers Works and was acquired by Borden (operating as Leicester Lovell) Over the next 55 years it expanded and by the closure in 2001 it covered 16 acres, and was completely surrounded by housing development.

Aerial picture taken in 1938 of Baddesley Aircraft Factory - the name of "NORTH BADDESLEY" can just be seen painted in the turf behind the buildings - at the top of the picture is the main A27 Botley Road

Aerial Photograph of Borden Factory, 2001