Delamare Road yesterday and nearly fifty years ago

[h20hamelan]

I would like three bricks please. And maybe a fourth, in case one breaks

[Maureen B-N]

This is really sad news - thanks Adam for bringing it to my attention. We did at least manage to make a final visit to Cheshunt when I was in England in July. After that we went to Hornsey and on to Hethel for the Classic Team Lotus tour. It was an exhausting day, especially for Adam who did all the driving. Looks like we made that visit just in time. Bill - if you are out there, any chance of getting some bricks ?

This is a horrible start to 2020 !

[billwill]

Ah, I regret that with my time organizing a meeting of old-school pupils and having to do my tax return (I always seem to leave it too close to the deadline) I don't think that I will have enough free time to take a run out to Cheshunt.



Best bet might be to ask the Monster Gym staff to snaffle a few bricks as arm-excercise weights and save them for Lotus owners.

[Coupe]

A fellow Lotus enthusiast and ex Cheshunt employee just confirmed the following:

Delamere Road Factory is still standing.
Called today to take some last time photos and it was all ok, it's the factory next door that is currently being demolished,
With all the demolishing that is currently underway don't suppose it will be too long.

[pharriso]

A fellow Lotus enthusiast and ex Cheshunt employee just confirmed the following:

Delamere Road Factory is still standing.
Called today to take some last time photos and it was all ok, it's the factory next door that is currently being demolished,
With all the demolishing that is currently underway don't suppose it will be too long.

In the photos that I posted it is clearly the main front office of the factory (where Chapman & Bushell's office was) that is being demolished. Maybe yyour contact worked in the Lotus Components (Monster Gym) building?

Happy to be wrong

[pharriso]

From the LotusEliteType14 group.io Discussion group today:

Re: Cheshunt Factory Building - Demolition Underway
From: Frank Thaxton
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2020 10:03:36 PST
I think we can relax - for now. Just heard back from Malcolm Ricketts, to whom I spoke yesterday, who has spoken to Clive Chapman today. Clive was well aware of the development happening at Delamare Road and confirmed that there is nothing on the factory building being demolished at Delamare Road which needs preserving.

Confirmed also that the plaque on the Monster Gym is safe and sound, as is the one on the Tottenham Road site (Jewsons). I understand the latter has some kind of official "preservation order" on it - but well worth watching out for both in future for any developments, "just in case".

Summary: The Monster Gym (Lotus Components) building is safe for now; the Delamare Road factory is being demolished.

[trw99]

I was in the area yesterday so popped by.

All is well. Monster Gym still standing and lots of beefy types coming and going. Next door offices and factory plus ramp all still standing and in use, apparently. Its the buildings either side that are being re-configured, as the photos show.

As it was lunch time I took the opportunity to have a drink and some nuts at The Red Cow, the pub at the end of the road where the workers used to take refreshment. It was a bit full of Spurs supporters!

Tim

[pharriso]

That's good news... at least for now.

[pharriso]

September 2021 Update:

Managed to finally make it over to the UK post Covid, with the aforementioned housing project thought it prudent to make a visit to Cheshunt to see the buildings.

The Lotus components building is still well used & looked after by the Monster Gym:

The 2015 plaque commemorating the '65 victories is still there...

Here's the development the other side of the street where the Tesco HQ used to be:

All the buildings to the side of the Lotus buildings have gone have gone. The industrial buildings opposite are empty, awaiting demolition.

[pharriso]

The Lotus (Cars) factory facility doesn't appear empty, but is very forlorn:

Alleyway between the buildings with the Cortina ramp at rear

Cortina bodies where loaded into the top floor here after delivery from Dagenham

The Cortina ramp, you can still see where the curb has been releaved following Colin Chapman's wheel scuff incident!

[Mazzini]

Thanks for posting.

I'll be passing London in a couple of weeks time, I might stop by for a final looksee.

Have a good trip.

[2cams70]

Yes thanks for posting.
A lot of history there.

[Quart Meg Miles]

Thanks for the update, Phil, enjoy the rest of your trip.

We need to remember our origins even if a BRM 25 beat us at the Revival! I don't really mind, it least it wasn't Italian.

[TBG]

Ah - the memories! When I picked up my "kit" - a 1966 S3 - it was fully assembled for cash during lunchtimes I believe, and it was handed over at the pub down the road where used notes were passed over to the assemblers! Avoided a fair bit of tax and I got a factory built car! D

[MaureenNieuwoudt]

Hi Everyone

I have heard from Paul Haussauer (one on Ron Hickman's development engineers at Cheshunt) - apparently he has been told that the Lotus building has now been demolished. I checked on the Monster Gym and that is still operating. Does anyone have any information on the Lotus building ?
Thanks, Maureen