Situated under Station Approach in Reading or shall I say the former Vincents site, This was purpose-built as a public 770 people air raid shelter and factory.
It is likely this is the biggest public air raid shelter in Reading still standing under the whole station complex, stretching out as far as the Great Western Hotel and the other end originally stretched out as far as Tudor Road.
The underground space was also said to have been used by Vincents Spitfire Parts where they made aircraft parts then later on shipped them to the underground factory in Henley.
The story goes that Reading was one of the chosen production sites after the Vickers Submarine Headquarters in Southampton was bombed in September 1940, later on it was then decided that using one factory was too tempting a target from German Bombers.
Therefore this meant Vincents opposite Reading Station, Great Western Motors on Vastern Road and Star Road were allocated for the construction of Spitfire wings, fuselage and engines.
After the engines were checked and installed the aircrafts were then shipped of to Cockpole Green near Henley.
Its also said that Vickers Armstrong used Reading as a dispersed production facility in World War II with major sub-assemblies in Reading Town Centre; this was, Central, Great Western and Vincents Garages.
