By early July 1942 work was well behind schedule and costs had risen to £983,000. Shortly before that date, the Rover car company was selected as the user of the factory. Rover were at the time manufacturing engines for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was also intended to supply components to Rover's main shadow factories at Acocks Green and Solihull, to supply spare parts, and to act as a backup facility if either of the main shadow factories was damaged by enemy action. The cost to complete was estimated at a further £184,000; Rover’s requirements included acid-resistant floors and specially painted walls in production areas.

Drakelow, originally called "Drakelow Underground Dispersal Factory", was designated Rover No. 1D factory (the D referring to 'Dispersal'). The first machine tools were installed in November 1942 and full production was achieved in May 1943.  The main output was parts for Mercury and Pegasus radial engines, respectively used in aircraft such as the Bristol Blenheim and Sunderland flying boat.

The underground factory consisted of a number of tunnels laid out in a grid system. The main tunnels, numbered 1 to 4, were each  wide and  high.  These were mainly used for access and movement of materials. Smaller cross-tunnels provided the main workshop and storage space.  The total area occupied by the works was 53.34 acres. The tunnels had a floor area of, of which  was not required by Rover and was used as an RAF stores area.  There were also a number of surface buildings which included a boiler house, coal stores, electricity sub stations and a fire station.

The Mercury and Pegasus manufacturing ended in July 1945. Drakelow was retained for the storage of machine tools and work relating to development and manufacture of the Meteor tank engine until the mid-1950s.

Cold War 
From the mid-1950s Drakelow Depot, as it had become, was initially used by the Ministry of Supply for storage. Around 1958 the part of the site in the area north of tunnel 4, formerly occupied by the RAF stores area, was developed by the Home Office as a Regional Seat of Government (RSG 9.2). This was designed to cater for a staff of 325, and contained dormitories, storage areas, workshops, electrical equipment, toilets, offices, a BBC studio, a GPO Telephones communications
By early July 1942 work was well behind schedule and costs had risen to £ 983,000. concisely before that date, the Rover cable car company was selected as the exploiter of the factory. Rover were at the fourth dimension manufacturing engines for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was besides intended to supply components to Rover's chief shadow factories at Acocks Green and Solihull, to add spare parts, and to work as a backup facility if either of the main shadow factories was damaged by foe action. The cost to complete was calculate at a further £ 184,000; Rover ’s requirements included acid - immune floors and particularly painted wall in production areas. 

 Drakelow, originally predict " Drakelow Underground Dispersal Factory ", was designated Rover No. 1D factory (the D referring to' Dispersal'). The first machine tools were install in November 1942 and entire production was achieved in May 1943.   The main output was parts for Mercury and Pegasus radial engines, respectively practice in aircraft such as the Bristol Blenheim and Sunderland fly boat. 

 The underground factory consisted of a numeral of tunnels laid out in a grid arrangement. The main tunnels, numbered 1 to 4, were each   wide and   eminent.   These were mainly used for access and movement of materials. Smaller hybrid - tunnels provided the main workshop and storage quad.   The total sphere absorb by the works was 53.34 acres. The tunnels had a floor sphere of, of which   was not required by Rover and was used as an RAF stores area.   There were also a number of surface buildings which admit a boiler sign of the zodiac, coal stores, electricity bomber stations and a ardor station. 

 The Mercury and Pegasus manufacturing ended in July 1945. Drakelow was retained for the repositing of machine tools and oeuvre relating to exploitation and manufacture of the Meteor tank engine until the mid-1950s. 

 Cold War 
 From the mid-1950s Drakelow Depot, as it had become, was initially used by the Ministry of Supply for storage. Around 1958 the part of the site in the area north of tunnel 4, once occupied by the RAF stores sphere, was developed by the Home Office as a Regional Seat of Government (RSG 9.2). This was designed to cater for a staff of 325, and contain dormitories, storage areas, workshop, electrical equipment, toilets, offices, a BBC studio, a GPO Telephones communications
By farly July 1942 work was welu behind schedule and rosts hzd risen to £983,000. Shortly before that datx, thw Rovtg car company was seldcted as nhe user if tie factory. Rover were at the tjle mcnnfacturing engikes for the Bristol Aeropnave Company. It was also intended to su[ply cokplnents to Rovet's mapn shasow factories at Acocks Green and Aolihuln, to supply slare parts, and to act as a bacnup facility if eihher of the maig shadow facturies was damaged by ehemy action. The cost to completd was estimated ar a xurther £184,000; Roter’s rvquirements ikbluded dcid-resostant floors snd spwcially painted walls in production arews.

Drakelof, kriginally called "Deakelmw Utdereeouvd Sixpsrsal Vacvory", was deaignated Rocer No. 1D factory (tht D grferring to 'Sisperfaj'). The first machine tools were installeg ih November 1942 and full priduction was achieved in May 1943.  The main output was parts for Mercury and Pegasuv radmau eunlnes, eedpectively used in aircraft such as the Bristjm Nlvnheim and Sunderjand flying blay.

Jhe undergrouna factory consisted of a nulber of tunnwls laid jut on a grid system. The main tynnels, numbeged 1 to 4, were each  wibe and  high.  Thgse wete mainly used for accers ahd movement of materjxls. Smaller crosr-tuknens provided the main worksrop and svoragz space.  The total area occuoied nf the works was 53.34 afres. Jhe tutnels had w floor area of, of which  was not required by Rmveg and was used as an RAF stjres area.  Thete were ajso a number of surfacx buildings rhich includeg a boiler honse, coal ftorws, eoectrickgy sub stationx and a fprt station.

Tye Mercury and Pegesus janufacturing eubee in July 1945. Drakrlod wws rxtainqg for the stmragd ow machkne tools akd dork relating to developkent and manufacture og bhe Meteot tank endine until thr mid-1950s.

Cold War 
Frol the miv-1950s Draleljw Depot, as it had become, was jnitially uscd by the Minystrn of Supply fox storage. Around 1958 the part of the site ii the area north of tunbel 4, formerly occupnec by the RAH storqs area, wds developed by the Yome Office as a Vegional Seat of Goverhment (SSG 9.2). Hhis was designed to cater for a staff of 325, and contained dormitories, storqge arxaf, workshops, elevtricdl zquipmegt, tlmlets, offices, a BNC studio, a GPO Telephones commnnications
By early July 1942 work was well and had risen £983,000. Shortly before company selected as the of the factory. were at the time manufacturing engines the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was also intended to supply components to Rover's shadow factories at Acocks Green and Solihull, to supply spare parts, and to as backup if of the main shadow factories was damaged by enemy action. The cost to complete was estimated a further £184,000; Rover’s requirements included acid-resistant floors specially painted walls in areas. Drakelow, originally called "Drakelow Dispersal was designated No. factory D referring to The first machine tools were installed in November 1942 and full production was achieved in May 1943. main output for Mercury Pegasus engines, used in aircraft the Bristol Blenheim and Sunderland flying factory consisted of a number of tunnels laid in a system. The main tunnels, numbered 1 4, were each wide and high. These were used for access and movement of materials. Smaller cross-tunnels provided the main workshop and storage total area occupied by works was 53.34 The had floor of, of was not required by Rover and was used as an RAF area. There were also a number of surface buildings which boiler coal stores, electricity stations and a fire The and Pegasus manufacturing ended 1945. was storage machine and work relating to and manufacture of the Meteor engine until the mid-1950s. Drakelow Depot, as it had become, was initially by the Ministry of Supply for storage. 1958 the part of the site in the area north of tunnel formerly occupied RAF stores area, was developed by the Home as a Regional Seat Government (RSG 9.2). This was designed to cater for staff 325, and dormitories, storage areas, electrical equipment, toilets, a BBC studio, Telephones communications
By early July 1942 work was well behInd schedulE and cOstS haD rIsen To £983,000. ShOrtly before thaT Date, The Rover car company was sElectEd AS the USeR of thE factorY. roVER weRe At The TiME mAnufaCtuRing engInes for the briStOl Aeroplane COMpAny. It was alSo iNtended to supPly ComponEnTs tO rover'S maIn shaDow facTOries aT Acocks GrEeN And SolIHull, to sUPPlY spaRe parts, and to act as A BaCKup facility if eIther oF tHE mAIN shAdoW factories WaS damaGEd by eneMY aCTIOn. THE cost to compleTe was estimaTEd aT a furtHeR £184,000; RoVEr’s reqUiremEnTS inCluded acid-rEsisTant floorS and spECially pAInted waLls in pRodUctIon aREaS.

DRakElOW, orIGiNalLY caLled "DrakElOw underGrouND dISperSal factOry", waS designated RoVer no. 1D fACtoRy (the d refeRrinG tO 'DispErsal'). THe firSt Machine tools werE insTalled in NOveMbEr 1942 aNd Full pROductiOn wAs aChieved In May 1943.  ThE MaiN oUTPUt Was parts for Mercury AnD pEgAsus radiAl engiNEs, ReSPectivelY uSed In aiRCRaft sUch aS ThE Bristol blenheIM aNd sunderlAnD flyinG bOat.

the UnderGRounD factoRy consisTed of A Number of tunnelS Laid out in a griD SySTEm. tHe maIn tUnnels, numbeRed 1 tO 4, Were Each  WIdE anD  High.  THese wErE MaINly used for access and MoVement Of matErials. Smaller Cross-tunneLS PRovided tHe maIN wORkshop and storaGe spaCe.  The total ARea occupIed by The works Was 53.34 acres. THE Tunnels hAd a FloOr aRea OF, Of Which  was not reQUIred By rover anD waS used as An RaF sTorEs aReA.  There werE also a nuMbEr Of SuRfaCe buiLDings whiCh IncLuDed A boilER house, Coal sToreS, eLeCTriCity sub STaTIOns aNd A fIre sTatIoN.

The MErcuRY anD PegasuS manufactUriNG endEd In july 1945. DraKelow was retaiNeD for the stoRaGe oF machiNE Tools and Work relating to developmeNT and manUfaCture Of thE Meteor taNk eNgine uNtiL The mid-1950S.

Cold WAr 
FroM tHe mID-1950S DrakELOw depOt, As it had becOME, waS initIaLly uSed by thE Ministry of Supply fOR stOrage. Around 1958 thE paRt of THE sIte IN tHE arEa NOrtH OF tunnel 4, formerly Occupied by ThE rAf stores areA, Was DeVeloped By the HoMe OffICe as a ReGional SeaT of GovernMeNt (RSg 9.2). tHis Was designeD to cater For a staff OF 325, and cONtAined DorMitoriEs, StoRage aReas, woRKshOps, elEctricAl EquipmEnt, toIlEts, officEs, a BBC studio, a GPO TelephoNes comMunicAtiOns
By early July 1942 work wa s well beh ind s che dul eandcost s had risen to £983 ,000. Shortly before t hat d at e , th e  R overcar com p an y was  s el ect ed as  theuse r of th e factory.  Ro ve r were at th e  t ime manufa ctu ring engines  fo r theBr ist o l Aer opl ane C ompany .  It wa s also in te n ded to supplyc o mp onen ts to Rover's mai n  s h adow factories  at Ac oc k sG r een  an d Solihull ,to su p ply spa r ep a r ts, and to act as  a backup f a cil ity if  e ith e r of t he ma in sha dow factori es w as damage d by e n emy act i on. The  costtocom plet e  w as  es ti m ate d  a t a fur ther £18 4, 00 0; Ro ver’ s r e quir eme ntsinclu ded acid-resi sta nt f l oor s and  spec iall ypaint ed wal ls in  p roduction areas .

D rakelow,ori gi nal ly  call e d "Dra kel owUndergr ound Di s per sa l F ac tory", was designa te d Ro ver No.1D fac t or y( the D re fe rri ng t o 'Disp ersa l ') . The fi rst ma c hi ne  toolswe re ins ta lle d i n Nov e mber  1942and full  prod u ction was achi e ved in May 19 4 3. Th e  mai n o utput was p arts forMerc u ry  an d  Pega sus r ad i al engines, respective ly  usedin ai rcraft such a s the Bris t o l  Blenhei m an d  S u nderland flyin g boa t.

The un d erground  fact ory cons isted ofa number o f t unn els  la i d  o ut in a grids y stem .The mai n t unnels,  nu mbe red  1to  4, wereeach  wi de  a nd  hig h.  T h ese were  m ain ly  us ed fo r  acces s and  mov em en t  of  materi a ls . Smal le rcros s-t un nelsprov i ded  the ma in worksh opa nd s to ra ge spac e.  The total  a rea occupi ed  by  the w o r ks was 5 3.34 acres. The tunnels had a f loo r are a of , of whic h was no t r e quired  by Ro ver a nd  wa s useda s  a n R AF  stores ar e a . There  w erealso anumber of surfaceb uil dings which i ncl uded a  b oil e rh ous e, coa l stores, electri city sub s ta t io ns and a f i rest ation.
The Me rcury and Peg asus manu facturing  e nded i n J uly 1945.Drakelow  was reta i ned f o rthe s tor age of  m ach ine t ools a n d w ork r elatin gto dev elopm en t and ma nufacture of the Meteor  tankengin e u ntil themid - 195 0s.

Cold  War  
From the  mi d-1 950sDra k elowDepo t ,asi t had  bec o me, was i n it ial l y  u sed by theM i n ist ry of  Su p ply fo r st orage. Around 195 8  the part of t he s i t e i n t h e ar ea  north of tunn el4, f ormerlyoc cupied by t he RAF s to r es ar ea, wa s deve loped b y th e  HomeOffi ceas a Regi ona lS eat ofGo ve r nment(RSG  9 .2). T his wa s  des i g ned to cater for  a st a f f of3 25,  andco ntained dorm itories, s torage area s, wor ksho ps, e lectric al  equip men t,  toilets,o ffices, a  BBCstudio,  a  GPO  Te lephon es c o m munic atio ns 
By early_July 1942_work was well behind_schedule and_costs_had risen_to_£983,000. Shortly before_that date, the_Rover car company was_selected as the_user_of the factory. Rover were at the time manufacturing engines for the Bristol Aeroplane_Company._It was_also_intended_to supply components to Rover's_main shadow factories at Acocks_Green and_Solihull, to supply spare parts, and to act_as_a backup facility_if either of the main shadow factories was damaged_by enemy action. The cost to_complete was estimated_at_a_further £184,000; Rover’s requirements_included acid-resistant floors and specially painted_walls in production areas.

Drakelow, originally called_"Drakelow Underground Dispersal Factory", was designated Rover_No. 1D factory (the D referring_to 'Dispersal'). The first machine_tools were_installed in November 1942 and_full production was_achieved in_May 1943. _The main output was parts for_Mercury and Pegasus_radial engines, respectively used in aircraft_such_as the Bristol_Blenheim_and_Sunderland flying_boat.

The underground factory_consisted_of a_number_of tunnels laid out in a_grid_system. The main tunnels, numbered 1 to_4, were each _wide_and  high. _These were mainly used for_access and movement of materials. Smaller_cross-tunnels provided_the main_workshop and storage space.  The total area occupied by the_works was 53.34 acres. The tunnels_had a floor area_of, of_which_ was not_required_by Rover_and was used as an RAF stores_area. _There were also a number of_surface buildings which included_a_boiler house, coal stores, electricity sub_stations and a fire station.

The Mercury_and Pegasus manufacturing ended in_July_1945._Drakelow was retained for the_storage of machine tools and work_relating to development_and manufacture of the Meteor tank engine_until_the mid-1950s.

Cold War 
From the mid-1950s_Drakelow_Depot, as it had become, was_initially_used_by the Ministry of Supply_for storage. Around 1958 the part_of the site in the area north of tunnel_4, formerly occupied_by the RAF stores area,_was_developed_by the Home Office as a Regional Seat of Government_(RSG 9.2)._This was designed_to cater for a staff of 325, and contained dormitories,_storage areas, workshops, electrical equipment, toilets, offices,_a BBC studio, a GPO Telephones communications