With the wife booking us a few days camping in Scotland I did the obvious thing and had a Google around to find any nearby potential UE spots. Did I find much? Only a massive WWII munitions factory 20 minutes drive from the campsite! RESULT!
The factory was built in 1939 on 300 acres of previously-farmland. Nitroglycerine and cordite were manufactured which were then transported onwards by the nearby Dumfries to Stranraer railway line. The volatile nature of the products meant some of the buildings were dug into the ground and surrounded by smalls encircling hills such that any accidental detonation would be relatively contained. The buildings also had duplicates on the opposite half of the site in case they were taken out by a bombing run.
After being decommissioned, the site and it's buildings were sold back to a farmer by the name of Mr Taylor who is now the current owner. He allows use of the site for army and police training exercises and evidence of this can be found everywhere. Much more info and history can be found here: http://www.dalbeattiematters.co.uk/features.asp?ID=54
I apologise for the number of pictures on this report but, seriously, its an 800 acre site!
Outside
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Inside
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Details
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Army training handbook
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Marker from army training exercise
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Plan of attack
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1944 graffiti
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It was a fun afternoon's explore but watch out for the electric fences and bogs.
Thanks folks
MrD
The factory was built in 1939 on 300 acres of previously-farmland. Nitroglycerine and cordite were manufactured which were then transported onwards by the nearby Dumfries to Stranraer railway line. The volatile nature of the products meant some of the buildings were dug into the ground and surrounded by smalls encircling hills such that any accidental detonation would be relatively contained. The buildings also had duplicates on the opposite half of the site in case they were taken out by a bombing run.
After being decommissioned, the site and it's buildings were sold back to a farmer by the name of Mr Taylor who is now the current owner. He allows use of the site for army and police training exercises and evidence of this can be found everywhere. Much more info and history can be found here: http://www.dalbeattiematters.co.uk/features.asp?ID=54
I apologise for the number of pictures on this report but, seriously, its an 800 acre site!
Outside
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Inside
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Details
21.
Army training handbook
22.
Marker from army training exercise
23.
Plan of attack
24.
25.
26.
27.
1944 graffiti
28.
29.
It was a fun afternoon's explore but watch out for the electric fences and bogs.
Thanks folks
MrD
