We close our Then and Now feature in Southwick with a second look at the Barnes Steamroller company and its work producing parts for Spitfires – the amazing planes that played an important role in the Second World War.
Spitfire parts were built in various locations around Trowbridge after bombing forced the works out of Southampton in 1940. Production was set up at the Barnes steamroller works in Southwick, the former Boots site in Fore Street and at Bradley Road, Trowbridge, near where the car wash is now. The body and wings and other parts were produced before the planes were completely assembled and flown to where they were needed from nearby Keevil airfield. Barnes’ factory is now gone, replaced with a housing development in Church Street, below.
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