Secret Spitfires commemorative plaques installed across Salisbury
The plaques mark locations where Spitfire parts were built and assembled during WWII
Last updated 14th Nov 2021
• 8 out of the 11 plaques now in place
• The plaques complement the Secret Spitfires Memorial
• They are placed at locations where parts for the iconic Spitfire aircraft were made during World War Two
Salisbury's 'Secret Spitfire Charity' has announced that a series of commemorative plaques have now been installed in locations across the city and beyond.
The plaques, designed by historian Norman Parker, the late director of the film “Secret Spitfires” Ethem Cetintas and Chair of the Secret Spitfire Charity, Chris Whalley and manufactured by Leander Architectural, take pride of place on the exteriors of buildings confirmed to have been requisitioned for Spitfire production during WWII.
They've been unveiled in addition to the Secret Spitfires Memorial, and provide further recognition of the efforts of hundreds of young women, boys, elderly men and engineers who constructed approximately 2,500 Spitfires in total secrecy in Salisbury between 1940-1945 after the bombing of the Southampton Supermarine Factory.
The sites where memorial plaques have been installed:
- Anna Valley Motors Garage, now the McCarthy Stone Monument Place Retirement Living Plus development, Castle St: Fuselage assembly, construction of tail units and component parts
- Wilts and Dorset Bus Garage, 141 Castle St, Salisbury: Wing production
- Wilts and Dorset Bus Depot (Entrance), now Salisbury Reds, 152 Castle St, Salisbury: Fuselage assembly and engine fitting
- Wessex Motors Garage, now Old George Mall Car Park: Building of fuselages and tail units
- “Factory No. 1”, now the Car Park, Salisbury RFC, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, used for fitting out fuselages and engine installation
- Highpost Hotel, now The Stones Hotel, Highpost, Old Sarum: Air Traffic Control, accommodation for High Post Airfield
- Wiltshire Flying Club, now Chemring, Highpost: Final assembly and flight test
- Final Assembly Area, now Highpost Business Park: Final assembly and flight test
Sites where memorial plaques are still to be installed:
- “Factory No. 2”, now Janspeed, Castle Rd: Built by Supermarine, where component assemblies and wings were built
- Watt & Vincent, now A.J. Waters Garage, Devizes Rd: Building of fuel tanks
- Chattis Hill Aerodrome, now in private ownership: Where two hangars were built and used for final assembly, an experimental unit and test and flight
Norman Parker and Chris Whalley officially unveiled the plaque at the former Anna Valley Motors Garage on Thursday 4th November, and gave a talk to residents on the Secret Spitfires story and Memorial.
Verity McKay, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, the developer behind the Monument Place Retirement Living Plus development, said:
“Here at McCarthy Stone, we recognise that our responsibilities go further than building high-quality retirement apartments – we also seek to create a positive legacy in the communities in which we build. Ensuring that we retain as much of the history of the Spitfire is very important to us and with the unveiling of this plaque, we hope to keep that history alive for our homeowners and the people of Salisbury for many years to come.”
Chris Whalley, Chair of the Secret Spitfire Charity said:
“It’s wonderful to see the plaques in place, and we are very grateful to the current custodians of the properties for helping us keep this part of history alive.”