When the scaffold towers Gloucestershire delivery was being done, the driver was tempted to take a few hours off to check out The Jet Age Museum. Not to mention some of the glorious Gloucestershire countryside that reminded him of stories his Grandma used to tell him when he was a young one.
He remembered the nights when she used to tell him bedtime stories of The Rollright Stones, a mysterious group of ancient megaliths on the border of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Legend says they were once a king and his knights turned to stone by a witch as punishment for their arrogance. Locals still speak of the stones whispering to each other on certain nights…
As he arrived at his delivery destination, The Jet Age Museum, he had already enjoyed being transported by the local scenery. The Forest of Dean, with its deep woods and hidden paths, has long been a place of mystery and magic. It inspired parts of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and is often linked to old tales of outlaws, witches, and hidden treasure. In fact, it was once believed to be a haunt of the woodwose—a wild man of the woods from English folklore.
But in front of him stood the dream of many an aeroplane enthusiast: The Jet Age Museum.
Scaffold Towers Gloucestershire: Adrenaline Pumping Afternoon
The LEWIS scaffold towers Gloucestershire delivery driver couldn’t believe the beautiful sight of what he felt was essentially a posh retirement home for planes.
He knew that an adrenaline-pumping afternoon surrounded by aircraft that could once break the sound barrier and your eardrums was waiting for him and his family. He planned to take them soon to the Jet Age Museum, Gloucestershire’s own hangar of dreams, where aviation history comes alive—and occasionally leaks a bit of oil.
This isn’t your average museum. There are no hushed whispers or Monet prints here—just the sweet scent of aviation fuel and the distant sound of someone explaining, “That’s not a missile, it’s a fuel tank.”
Inside, you’ll find a collection of aircraft that once terrified pigeons across Europe. Leading the squadron is the Gloster Meteor, the first British jet fighter and the only Allied jet to see combat in WWII. It’s basically the Mick Jagger of jets—grizzled, iconic, and somehow still drawing a crowd.
Then there’s the English Electric Lightning, a plane that climbs like it’s late for dinner and flies faster than your Mum dodging tech support scams. You won’t see it break the sound barrier today, but you might hear a volunteer enthusiast break into a passionate monologue about its twin engines stacked on top of each other “like a jet-powered lasagna.”
Also making an appearance is the Gloster Javelin—the only plane that looks like it was designed by a committee that couldn’t decide between “futuristic interceptor” and “angry manta ray.”
Don’t miss the Hawker Hunter, sleek and smooth like a ‘50s rock ballad, and the De Havilland Vampire, which, despite its spooky name, just wants to be loved (and polished). And of course, there’s the Canberra, which has seen more action than a Bond villain’s getaway vehicle.
Got kids? Perfect. Bring them along and watch as they completely ignore the rich historical significance in favour of the cockpit’s big red button (which, don’t worry, no longer does anything… we think). Got a partner who’s not a plane nerd? Don’t worry—they’ll eventually find the café and settle in with a nice slice of cake while you reconnect emotionally with an aircraft you once built a model of in 1984.
Volunteers run the show here, and they’re brilliant—equal parts engineers, historians, and enthusiastic time travellers. Ask one a simple question like, “What’s that plane?” and you might find yourself getting a TED Talk-length deep dive complete with hand gestures, laminated diagrams, and possibly a wingnut handed to you as a souvenir.
In short, the Jet Age Museum is part museum, part aeroplane retirement home, and part engineering love letter. Whether you’re a lifelong aviation buff, a curious wanderer, or someone just trying to kill an hour before the pub opens, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
Just remember to duck when you walk under the wing. That warning’s not just for the kids. :)
Have fun if you decide to visit. But in the meantime….