Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians aditnow.co.uk
National Explosives Factory (United Kingdom)
Established in 1888, to produce dynamite for blasting in the mines, the National Explosives Company expanded rapidly to produce three tons per day in 1890. The Works covered 300 acres and over 1800 people worked there. Up to 2,000 tons of Cordite, Gelatine, Nitro-Glycerine and Gelignite were manufactured there for the Army and the Navy until 1919, when all production was stopped. The site was still used to store explosives until the 1960s, when it was finally abandoned.
The Spur-line remained in operation until 1922, while the Works were being stripped and cleared. The Company had had it’s own engine specially-built by Peckett and Son of Bristol. It was a four-coupled saddle tank locomotive which, because of the dangers of setting off an explosion, had been fitted with a spark-arresting funnel, which was believed to have been sold in 1924 to the Wire Works at wmbran in Monmouthshire.
All that remains of the factory buildings, storage bays and nitrating vats can still be found to the North and East of the site. The Chimney Stack14, although partially stripped of its special acid-resistant bricks, is still standing and was renovated in November 1998.
The Denitrification Towers were lined with blocks of Volvic Lava from
the Puy-de-Dome region of France because it was resistant to acid and
had thermal properties. Some of the Volvic stones were used to line the original kiln at Bernard Leach’s Pottery in St. Ives.
Great care should be taken when visiting this site. The Dynamite Works have been closed for nearly forty years and many of the vats and storage pits are very overgrown. Four of the five shafts of the Boiling Well Mine were still in existence until the spring of 2000 when they were capped by the Cornwall County Council’s Countryside Agency. The shafts crossed the Towans on a line, E.N.E.-W.S.W. in direction.
Footnote:
Thanks to the expertise of IClOk and his contacts I can now add the history of the imprtant little engine.
Built 1917 and delivered new to Hayle Towans (given in Peckett order book)
Peckett and Co Works number 1448
Type M5 0-4-0 Tank Loco
Cyls (2) 10" x 15"
Site closed in 1919 but used for storage
Loco sold to J.C.Hill & Co Cwmbran mill in 1924
Then to Whitchurch Hill & Co Ltd wire Works in 1926. Cut up for scrap on site in December 1966
Latest Documents for National Explosives Factory
Sorry, no documents have been uploaded yet for National Explosives Factory.
Photo Albums for National Explosives Factory
National Explosives User Album You are welcome to use this album for uploading photographs of National Explosives.
Last modified 15/07/2008 16:09:34 by carnkie.
National Explosives Archive Album You are welcome to use this album for uploading archive or historical photographs of National Explos...
Last modified 07/07/2008 12:44:59 by carnkie.Google Earth Map of National Explosives Factory
To view the Google Map for this mine please log in or register an account.
Click here to discuss National Explosives Mine in the forum.
The correct forum will be automatically selected.
There are no events currently planned.
Add an Event
If you would like to visit National Explosives Factory then click here to add an event to the calendar.
If you worked or work at National Explosives why not share that information with other AditNow members?
Add Yourself
If you would like to share your photographs and documents please use the links below:
Upload a Document
Post a Sticky (Note)
Discuss in Forum
You must be logged in to access your Favourite Mines/Quarries.
Please log in or register an account.
To view the grid reference for this mine please log in or register an account.
Albert Adventure Mixed Mine
Albert Adventure Tin Mine
Andrew West Tin Mine
Angarrack Tin Smelter
Angarrack Consols Tin Mine
Boil Mixed Mine
Boiling Well Mixed Mine
Cold Harbour Mixed Mine
Copperhouse Copper Smelter
Cupola Mixed Mine
Liverpool Mixed Mine
Loggans Mixed Mine
Maggot Mixed Mine
Mellanoweth Mixed Mine
Mellanvrane Mixed Mine
Nantarrow Consols Mixed Mine
Nanterrow Mixed Mine
North Wheal Alfred b Mixed Mine
North Wheal Alfred c Mixed Mine
Phillack Towan Mixed Mine
Rice Mixed Mine
St Andrew Mixed Mine
Trungle Mixed Mine
Wheal Emily (Gwithian) Tin Mine
Wheal Mary United Mixed Mine
Change view area
National Explosives served all the following mines/locations:
West Dolcoath a Mixed Mine
Old Rosewarne Mixed Mine
Rosewarne Consols Copper Mine
New Rosewarne Mixed Mine
North Rosewarne Mixed Mine
West Rosewarne United Mixed Mine
If you have any questions at all about mine exploration or the AditNow web site please get in touch:
info@aditnow.co.uk
Spotted any problems with the web site, or any inaccuracies or errors in the information on here? Please let us know:
info@aditnow.co.uk
