Jack Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 "For me as a small boy, the highlight of a train journey from Corfe Castle to just about anywhere North, was the moment when we passed Horton Heath. Suddenly, the scene would change from open countryside to a mysterious world of strangely shaped buildings with camouflage shapes painted upon them, masses of pipes issuing steam and huge fans whirling around. It was an ambition of mine to visit the factory one day, although by the time I was old enough it had closed" Les Hayward Author - Royal Navy Cordite Factory. It is strange how we seem to take no notice of the history that is on our doorstep. I had a call from HFerret...' Jack, do you and Jesse want to come over and take a walk, over, around, in the old cordite factory that is just over the fence from my place?' YES can the answer from me! Now when I say 'factory' I don't just mean a small brick building........I mean this site is or should I say, was massive. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't around 400-500 acres :schocked: It was during the first few weeks of WW1 that Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, insisted on the need for the RN to have its own supply of cordite for its shell. Because of the environement that the RN opperated it was realised that the RN needed a high grade propellent........and so this was the birth of the Royal Navt Cordite Factory here in Dorset. It is hard to explain the size of this site as it is now covered in trees and even though many of the big buildings have gone we are lucky in the fact that the small productions buildings are still standing and are solid as the day they were built. It is a most facinating place to visit. Perhaps the best way to help explain the scale of this site is the fact that we stood on top of the resivour which held 3 million gallons :schocked: and they have two pumps which would pump 2 million gallons a day of water as the production for cordite has an enormous thirst for water! Transportation of supplys and the end product was on narrow gauge railways and with fireless and electric loco's. So here we go with some pictures. 1 - Jerry and Jess stood on top of 3 million gallons of water http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/res1.jpg[/img] 2 - The control room. An interior view of the control trench - an underground room which provided emergency communications and bomb plotting equipment. The ladder leads up to a protective observation turret. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/controlroomentrance.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/Ladderup.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/obstower.jpg[/img] 3 - Nitroglycerine Hill, this man made hill is massive and it basically contain to very small rooms but it was buried deep under the soil just there was an explosion. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/nitrohill-1.jpg[/img] 4 - Compressor rooms http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/comp1.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/comp2.jpg[/img] Bunker? http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/bunker-1.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/bunker1.jpg[/img] Press rooms - where the propelent was packed into its 'bags' ready for use in the big guns. Amazing rooms and there where many of these on the site - note the first picture, Jerry and Jess trying to look like male models :whistle: http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/entrancepressroom.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/Presshouse.jpg[/img] http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/press3.jpg[/img] Health and Safety http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/sign.jpg[/img] A grease box that is still full of grease in one of the press rooms. http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b107/richmorris/greesebox.jpg[/img] Another great day out and a big thank you to both Jerry and Sue from Jess and I and thanks to Sue for the emergency dash at dinner time with the beer and head torches :-D and many thanks to Sue for the egg and bacon butties and a mug of cracking tea on our return! If you are listening Jerry...........JESS said that he would like to go again and he would like it if I went with him :whistle: as it is truely a fasinating place and I am now going to read the history of the place and then it will make a lot more sense. Cheers Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Hardyferret Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Jack I am glad you and Jesse had such a good time, and thanks for keeping himself out of trouble for an afternoon. ;-) Great Pic's by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FV601 (R.I.P.) Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Great pictures and looks like it was a great day. Just a word of caution though as the site was originally a cordite factory. As with the Gunpowder mills at Waltham Abbey there are still restricted areas where risk of explosion, chemical burns and other nasty bits and pieces are still possible. (Rapier Rob can confirm this). Not being sure if this particular site was used in the manufacture of cordite rather than just the preparation of shell packing I personally would be a little cautious in my investigation. Sorry if this has placed a bit of a damper on the day, it was'nt meant to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tunnel_Rat Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Excellent pics there guys :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian2b Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 so jack and jerry when you gonna do guided tour for the dover tunnel crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted December 28, 2006 Author Share Posted December 28, 2006 Great pictures and looks like it was a great day. Just a word of caution though as the site was originally a cordite factory. As with the Gunpowder mills at Waltham Abbey there are still restricted areas where risk of explosion, chemical burns and other nasty bits and pieces are still possible. (Rapier Rob can confirm this). Not being sure if this particular site was used in the manufacture of cordite rather than just the preparation of shell packing I personally would be a little cautious in my investigation. Sorry if this has placed a bit of a damper on the day, it was'nt meant to. Not a problem as the sire has been more than cleared, but Jerry did raise an eyebrow when I lit a cigarette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Hardyferret Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 From the desk of the Administration, Field Supplies and Catering Manager the 3 J's what mischief shall we get into today club. so jack and jerry when you gonna do guided tour for the dover tunnel crew. In the past we have been given written permission by the owners to go into this site and take photographs. Unfortunately the site has now changed ownership and is kept firmly fenced and locked. Sometime over the Christmas break some serious damage has occurred (by vandals I presume) to the fence and one of the gates. I know one of the people responsible for maintenance on the site and understand that the fence and gate will be fully repaired in the next few days. So it will all be closed off again. This little jaunt was very much a spur of the moment thing - taking advantage of a situation. We will keep our ear to the ground (or nose to the wire) and should the opportunity arise in the future for any one else to come and see we will get on to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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