When did ROF Chorley close?

When did ROF Chorley close?

ROF Chorley closed in 2005-07; the majority of the site being decontaminated and demolished; the land being sold off for housing in the new Buckshaw Village.

Why was the ROF built?

In the late 1930s leading up to the outbreak of war in 1939, the British government developed a strategy to enhance the capacity of the existing three Royal factories and to disperse armaments and munitions production away from major cities and the southeast part of England which were felt to be especially vulnerable …

Was Chorley bombed in Ww2?

The Royal Ordnance Factory in Euxton near Chorley was once home to a huge munitions factory. It employed 35,000 people at the height of its production and “In May 1943 workers on the 928 acres site filled 19 bouncing bombs for the famous ‘Dambuster’ raid on the German dams in the Ruhr valley” (chorleyremembers.org.uk).

When was ROF Chorley built?

However in the mid 1930’s an area of nearly 1,000 acres was compulsory purchased by the Government to build a large purpose built Ordnance Factory, and it became known as ROF Chorley. Construction began in 1936 and the factory was opened and in production from 1939 until 2007.

Is Chorley part of Preston?

Chorley is a town in Lancashire, England, 8.1 miles (13 km) north of Wigan, 10.8 miles (17 km) south west of Blackburn, 11 miles (18 km) north west of Bolton, 12 miles (19 km) south of Preston and 19.5 miles (31 km) north west of Manchester. Chorley is the home of the Chorley cake.

What did buckshaw village used to be?

The new development is taking place on the former site of the Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Chorley, and covers several square miles mainly consisting of the part of Euxton known as Buckshaw, which was requisitioned by the War Office in the 1930s.

What did the ROF make?

These were the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF). When war broke out, many textile mills were converted to make munitions and some old mills were reopened. The three processes of making shells, producing explosive chemicals and then filling and priming the shells ready for use were all kept separate.

Is Chorley classed as South Ribble?

South Ribble East extends slightly into Chorley district while the Worden area is covered by the Chorley Central CHP. The overall population in the authority has grown steadily over the years. The 2020 mid-year population estimate total for the authority was 111,086.

Was any of the Bay filmed in Chorley?

The shows crew set up on St Thomas’s Road filming a scene for the shows upcoming second season. The show, which takes place in Morecambe, follows Detective Sergeant Lisa Armstrong as she investigates a case of two missing children.

What is the population of Buckshaw Village?

4,000
It is one of the largest urban development sites in the North West of England with a population of about 4,000 although official population statistics mainly sit within Euxton….

Buckshaw Village
Population 4,000
OS grid reference SD562210
Civil parish Euxton
District Chorley

When did ROF Nottingham close?

2001
Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Nottingham opened in 1936 in The Meadows, Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was one of a number of Royal Ordnance Factories created in the build up to World War II. During the war the site employed up to four thousand workers. The factory was closed in 2001.

Who controls South Ribble?

Council make-up The current political make-up of the Council is as follows: Conservative 22; Labour 22; Liberal Democrat 5; Independent 1. The Leader of the Council is Councillor Paul Foster (Labour). The Leader of the Opposition is Councillor Karen Walton (Conservative).

What was the cost of the ROF Chorley factory?

ROF Chorley was the site where the bouncing bombs, designed by Barnes Wallis and famed for the Dambusters raid, were filled, the main site for the filling of large-capacity aircraft bombs being ROF Glascoed. The overall cost of the plant was £13,140,000. The factory was protected by anti-aircraft artillery that surrounds the facility.

What happened to Royal Ordnance Chorley?

The registered office of Royal Ordnance plc, however, remained in London . The site continued to be known as Royal Ordnance Chorley, or RO Defence, Chorley for some twenty years after privatization; but then lost its name, eventually, becoming a BAE Systems Land Systems site and then a BAE Systems Land and Armaments site.

What happened to the Chorley bomb factory?

It employed 35,000 people at the height of its production and “In May 1943 workers on the 928 acres site filled 19 bouncing bombs for the famous ‘Dambuster’ raid on the German dams in the Ruhr valley” (chorleyremembers.org.uk). It is currently being turned into the village of Buckshaw (see this development in the photo to the Right).

What happened to ROF Chorley and ROF Bridgend?

ROF Chorley and ROF Bridgend were the two largest filling factories, but even before they were both finished it was realized that they would not have the necessary capacity to meet Britain’s and the British Commonwealth ‘s needs for ammunition.