Hi guys and dolls. First time on here and think I have got my head around posting.
A nice mooch around this place the other day, lovely weather and not a soul in sight.
This place was built in the late 30s as a propellant factory for the Royal Navy.
By the end of 1940 the Main Office block was complete, and in December of that year the Unit 1 Sulphuric Acid Factory went into production with acid mixing for the Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine manufacturing. Five months later, the Pressure Oxidation Plant for the manufacture of Nitric acid came on stream. In August 1941 the Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine plants were operational and were soon working 24 hours a day on a three-shift pattern. At the same time, Unit 2 of the factory was almost completed, so RNPF Caerwent was now virtually operational.
A total of £4.7 million was spent on buildings and roads, and £2.5 million on plant and equipment.
Early in the 1960s a Parliamentary working party recommended that propellants for the three branches of the armed services should be concentrated at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton. The decision to close RNPF was announced on 25 March 1965. Production continued during the following two-year rundown phase.
Wiki.
Later become Raf, USAF run depot
The US Army spent over £4 million constructing 300 magazines and converting some of the former RNPF structures to conform to the required specification. The material stored included small arms ammunition, artillery shells (up to 8"), anti-tank mines, grenades, flares, and the multiple launch rocket system. wiki
These pics are from a small area to the front of the depot that is accessible.
A nice mooch around this place the other day, lovely weather and not a soul in sight.
This place was built in the late 30s as a propellant factory for the Royal Navy.
By the end of 1940 the Main Office block was complete, and in December of that year the Unit 1 Sulphuric Acid Factory went into production with acid mixing for the Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine manufacturing. Five months later, the Pressure Oxidation Plant for the manufacture of Nitric acid came on stream. In August 1941 the Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine plants were operational and were soon working 24 hours a day on a three-shift pattern. At the same time, Unit 2 of the factory was almost completed, so RNPF Caerwent was now virtually operational.
A total of £4.7 million was spent on buildings and roads, and £2.5 million on plant and equipment.
Early in the 1960s a Parliamentary working party recommended that propellants for the three branches of the armed services should be concentrated at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton. The decision to close RNPF was announced on 25 March 1965. Production continued during the following two-year rundown phase.
Wiki.
Later become Raf, USAF run depot
The US Army spent over £4 million constructing 300 magazines and converting some of the former RNPF structures to conform to the required specification. The material stored included small arms ammunition, artillery shells (up to 8"), anti-tank mines, grenades, flares, and the multiple launch rocket system. wiki
These pics are from a small area to the front of the depot that is accessible.
Lots of graffiti. Hope you enjoy.
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
Raf base by Andrew Lennox, on Flickr
