Avro Heritage Museum Reveals Plan to Expand

The Avro Heritage Museum, a dedicated institution preserving Manchester’s aviation legacy, has announced ambitious plans to expand its facilities. Located at the historic Avro site in Woodford, Stockport, the museum commemorates the centennial of Avro’s founding at this site, where iconic aircraft like the Lancaster Bomber were built.

The story of Avro began in 1909 when Alliott Verdon-Roe, born in Patricroft near Salford, designed and flew the Roe 1 Triplane, the first entirely British-built airplane. By 1910, he and his brother founded A.V. Roe and Company, initially working from a modest workshop in Brownsfield Mill, Ancoats, Manchester, before relocating to larger facilities across the city and eventually establishing the Woodford assembly plant in 1924.

The proposed expansion will allow the museum to showcase a greater number of aircraft, enhance accessibility, and introduce interactive exhibits. Frank Pleszak, a representative from the museum, emphasized the importance of preserving Manchester’s aviation history, saying, “The history of aviation in the North West is very significant. It’s important to preserve it to inspire the next generation.”

Lancaster Bombers, assembled and tested at the Woodford aerodrome, were produced by Avro’s Chadderton factory, which lacked its own airfield. The Woodford site was also instrumental in manufacturing the Avro Vulcan, the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, and the BAe 146. Although Avro eventually became part of BAE Systems, which closed the site in 2011, the Avro Heritage Museum, established in 2015, continues to celebrate this legacy. The museum’s collection includes a replica of the historic Roe I Triplane and the Avro Vulcan XM603, alongside immersive experiences such as a virtual reality recreation of a bombing mission from the UK to Berlin. An application for the planned expansion is expected to be submitted to Stockport Council by the end of the year.

Located on the former Woodford Aerodrome near Stockport in Cheshire, this historic site was once the production center for iconic aircraft such as the Lancaster, Vulcan, Nimrod, and BAe 146. The Avro Heritage Museum features a variety of captivating exhibits, including the only existing all-white Vulcan bomber. The museum offers numerous activities suitable for all ages, and visitors can enjoy light refreshments at the on-site café, which provides stunning views of the Vulcan bomber proudly displayed outside. Entirely self-funded, the museum relies on admission fees for income and is staffed by dedicated volunteers, many of whom previously worked at Avro’s Chadderton and Woodford facilities. For more information and to support the museum, visit www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk