List of open Free-range scrapyards

[jerrin91]

Anyone miss going to those free range scrapyards with nothing but a bag full of tools? I ask because since we live in a nanny state, its getting harder and harder to find such scrapyards. Was in Birmingham last week and although there are loads of scrapyards in every corner of the city, none allows you to go in and do the dirty work yourself. But luckily....

There is one nearby where I live in Banbury called Smiths of Bloxham. Family run i believe but the guys running the business are very friendly and let you wander around without being nosy at all. Since its located in the countryside they have all kinds of cars going back to Morris scattered across a large field. RX8, jags, miatas.. you name it they have it.. I always try to go there once a month and it always gets me exited as its like going on an adventure. Dont care at all about jumping back in the car with dirty boots.

So my point of starting this thread is to encourage you pistonians to name some of the scrapyard you know for sure that still lets you forage as the list can come handy for others here.

[Merry]

Used to go here as a kid, remember collecting car badges in my little toolbox. Don't think much has changed.

G&E Carbreakers
Jackson St, Haydock, Saint Helens WA11 0AZ
01744 730088
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jkToskRUye2KT9TL7

Dad used to send me up to the cars at the top of the stack as I was a bit lighter so it would wobble less!

[peterperkins]

Years ago Hainford Hall Car spares in Norfolk was the place. We lived 500yds away.
They has what seemed like hundreds of cars stacked up all over the place.
It was alway busy with people swarming over them like scavengers on a posh refuse tip.

As kid I always came out with pockets full of halogen bulbs and others bits.

My dad kept a fleet of old British rusty crap going for years thanks to them.

[anonymous-user]

There are 2 in dorset.

Charles trent in Poole

And langfords near Warminster.

Both are exactly what you are looking for

[Drawweight]

U-Pull-it at Inverkeithing lets you help yourself to the necessary bits.

They also have an online price list which gives you an idea of the final bill.

However although they are cheap for some things they do tend to be a bit pricey.

[m1dg3]

Harry Buckland in Cheltenham is good. 500 odd cars, often including 'Police aware' and DVLA seized vehicles.

Common parts often don't last long though - there seems to be a healthy ecosystem of eastern Europeans filling shopping trollies with bits to flip on eBay.

[anonymous-user]

I remember doing this, the piled up vehicles used to wobble a lot.

Back in the 80's there were two in Waddon in Croydon, can't remember names but the one closest to the station was an oily mess. This one caught fire somehow and just went up like a fire work, we were in the clean one at the other end of the road watching the fire take hold and the gas bottles exploding and flying around. All this while helping some friends trying to get a flywheel off an old Austin 'Aggro' engine.

[hogfisch]

Haynes at Challow, Wantage still lets you wander amongst the scrap cars, albeit it has been considerably cleaned up since the 1980s when my brother and I used to clamber to the top of the piles of cars stacked three high!

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Hughes in Bicester, Oxon.

Not piled up these days but a good selection. You can wonder round and remove the bits yourself just like the old days. Oh but you have to wear a provided yellow vest haha.

[mrtwisty]

Albert Looms just outside Derby is still very much in business. Was there just the other day sourcing some Pug 207 door seals ready for a winter project (improved roof seal kit for my old man's Lotus Elan M100).

Been going there since I was a kid. The only thing that has changed is they now give you a high vis vest to wear when you enter. Oh and no under 17's allowed.

https://www.albertlooms.com

I've also just discovered that their website has a comprehensive list of all the cars currently on site.

[mwstewart]

Windleys in Lincolnshire.

Good thread

[Siggy61]

5Cylinder said:

There are 2 in dorset.

Charles trent in Poole

And langfords near Warminster.

Both are exactly what you are looking for

Last time I looked Warminster was not in Dorset. I thought trentys had stopped all that years ago, hope you're right, I need a few bits from them.

[Xcore]

A1s in Wokingham

[Gary C]

Argh, just found out that WJ Furbers near Whitchurch has gone !!

6 hectares of fun !

Years of stripping down engines and gearboxes in the mud, just to get a part.

Sad days.

Glad there are still some about.

[Yertis]

5Cylinder said:

There are 2 in dorset.

Charles trent in Poole

And langfords near Warminster.

Both are exactly what you are looking for

Where is Langfords? I’ve often (ie every time I’ve driven past in the last 34 years ) wanted to have a poke around that one just north of Shaftesbury. Do you know what the policy is there?

Edited to add... OK - plot twist, Langfords is the one I’m referring to, and is in Dorset. But is certainly nearer to Shaftesbury than Warminster.

Edited by Yertis on Sunday 25th August 08:55

[Le Controleur Horizontal]

Siggy61 said:

Last time I looked Warminster was not in Dorset. I thought trentys had stopped all that years ago, hope you're right, I need a few bits from them.

Langfords is Nr Shaftesbury not Warminster.

[JonRS]

Langfords and Charles Trent (Poole) no longer allow you to enter the yards. I guess this is spreading to almost all scrapyards nowadays.

[sunbeam alpine]

jerrin91 said:

There is one nearby where I live in Banbury called Smiths of Bloxham...

I used to be a regular there back in the '80's - it was only thanks to them that I kept my old wrecks on the road!

It's great to hear they're still going.

[Le Controleur Horizontal]

JonRS said:

Langfords and Charles Trent (Poole) no longer allow you to enter the yards. I guess this is spreading to almost all scrapyards nowadays.

@ Langfords they do....but they need to know you or you need to look like you know what you are doing ...I was in there 3 weeks ago recovering a screen scuttle cover-plate

[CharlieH89]

Merry said:

Used to go here as a kid, remember collecting car badges in my little toolbox. Don't think much has changed.

G&E Carbreakers
Jackson St, Haydock, Saint Helens WA11 0AZ
01744 730088
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jkToskRUye2KT9TL7

Dad used to send me up to the cars at the top of the stack as I was a bit lighter so it would wobble less!

I called in there a couple of years ago to see if they had something that I needed, maybe a turbo actuator for a Mondeo.
I was only nipping in so was in jeans and my best footwear.
The floor was filthy oil all over the place or mud, can’t remember.
Well and truly fked the footwear up and I had only stepped into the place near the front door