The photos, below, were taken at the beginning and end of 2015. Some are of the old labs (now almost completely trashed), and some are buildings that were once industrial units. I've heard the latter may be demolished in the near future, but who knows?
History
The Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, (RNCF), was set up at Holton Heath, Dorset in World War I to manufacture Cordite for the Royal Navy. It was reactivated in World War II to manufacture gun propellants for the Admiralty and its output was supplemented by the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, Caerwent.
The laboratories controlled the testing of raw materials coming into the site and the quality of explosives manufactured on the site.
After the end of World War II, the explosive manufacturing areas of the site were closed down and some areas of the site reopened as an Admiralty Research Establishment. A major part of the explosives site became a Nature Reserve in 1981. Other parts of the site were converted into an Industrial Estate. Some may be used for housing.
The Admiralty Research Establishment became part of Defence Research Agency (DRA) and DRA Holton Heath finally closed in the late 1990s. None of the site is now owned by the Ministry of Defence.
One of the last untrashed windows... ↓
History
The Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, (RNCF), was set up at Holton Heath, Dorset in World War I to manufacture Cordite for the Royal Navy. It was reactivated in World War II to manufacture gun propellants for the Admiralty and its output was supplemented by the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, Caerwent.
The laboratories controlled the testing of raw materials coming into the site and the quality of explosives manufactured on the site.
After the end of World War II, the explosive manufacturing areas of the site were closed down and some areas of the site reopened as an Admiralty Research Establishment. A major part of the explosives site became a Nature Reserve in 1981. Other parts of the site were converted into an Industrial Estate. Some may be used for housing.
The Admiralty Research Establishment became part of Defence Research Agency (DRA) and DRA Holton Heath finally closed in the late 1990s. None of the site is now owned by the Ministry of Defence.
One of the last untrashed windows... ↓
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