All the listed buildings are designated at GradeII, the lowest of the three grades, which is applied to "buildings of national importance and special interest". (Off) A Gannett Company. And so we started and slowly succeeded in increasing the number of high quality tools being produced. We have since expanded our research to include everyone from Keighley and the Worth Valley who served in wartime and are currently focussing on women in the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment who were mostly nurses. Why Men of Worth? Others were built to defend important installations such as airfields or munitions factories. By August, 1945, it was to have made 204 million munition components, including 63 million shells and 120 million cases. Part of this facility was a heat treatment department under the control of a former farrier/blacksmith. contact the editor here. (Off) SOURCES We follow all available sources of information and use the information in these sources to create a biography about each person for our archive. This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. Initial training started with foot drill, marching and handling rifles and bayonets. We follow all available sources of information and use the information in these sources to create a biography about each person for our archive. Red Rocket is a determinate tomato variety that is well-suited to hot, muggy climates like those found south of Memphis. What Are Russet Mites? 400 jobs at the Royal Ordnance factory in Birtley. Popularly known as The Dump, the Royal Ordnance Factory had started production earlier that year. Read the Enriching the List Terms and Conditions. Click to enlarge. Comments have been closed on this article. Work on the new Royal Ordnance factory at Wrexham began soon after the outbreak of war in 1939. Because we were eligible for overtime pay we clocked on and off on arrival and departure at the works. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment. For me the Home Guard experience was an excellent one. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. read more on the Staff who worked there. The examples had thin skiver linings and were held together by leather thongs. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Lord helps them that help themselves! We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. The results appeared on the Receipt and Measurement Certificates against which payment was made. The blanks were then pressed into a shallow cup, annealed, cleaned and washed ready for the second stage of five drawing operations. The Royal Ordnance Factory at Steeton Dump was built from scratch in late 1940 and began production in early 1941. It was dangerous work for all concerned. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Please contact us through our Submit page form to add a person to the archive. Small Arms Ammunition - This type of factory was, in essence, an Engineering factory which specialised in the production of small arms shell casings. The example at Steeton falls into the latter category, and was part of the defences around the Royal Ordnance Factory. Dobinson, C.S., Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Vol II, Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII (1996), 157-67REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: INTERIOR: Access is via the rear door on the ground floor, and there is a transverse anti-ricochet wall across the interior. WebRoyal Ordnance Factories ( ROFs) was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. HP10 9TY. An update. "The Dump" even ran it's own farm of seven acres, raising pigs and producing vegetables for consumption in the works canteen. Because there were fewer male occupiers than rooms I was fortunate enough to occupy a twin bedded room in Wharfedale H Block. We are also researching conscientious objectors from the area. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It was located on the banks of the River Wharfe, north-east of the two villages of Boston Spa and Thorp Arch; and four miles south-east of the town of Wetherby, West Yorkshire in England. One of only four known four type 24 two story pillboxes apparently! It is in stone and, The milestone is on the south side of Keighley Road (B6265 road). There were 16 such sites around the country and Risley was known as Filling Factory No. Hopefully people will find it interesting: Grub's Mystery Green - Uncovering the Unique Variety of Tomato Patented in Russia Until 2051, The Green Mystery of the Grub is a unique variety of tomato that has been patented in Russia until 2051 by Vasily Ivanovich Blockin-Mechtalin. There is a third pillbox which I have yet This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. SOURCES Comments have been closed on this article. Also being housed were some male engineering apprentices from Keighley. Read about our current news, projects and campaigns nationally and in your area. Another part is a prison, originally HMP Thorp Arch, now HMP Wealstun. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. WebAcademy was founded. WebLatitude: 53.8979 / 5353'52"N Longitude: -1.9555 / 157'19"W OS Eastings: 403024 OS Northings: 444633 OS Grid: SE030446 Mapcode National: GBR GRSC.FG Mapcode Global: Our Project researches local people from Keighley and the Worth Valley who served the country in wartime. This involved a trolley bus ride to Bradford, a bus journey to Keighley, and a transfer to a further bus to Steeton. At its peak it employed over 4,000 workers and two thirds were unskilled women, many of whom were drafted there as an alternative to conscription into the armed forces. This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. If you would like to work with us or join our Project, please visit our Contact page under About in the menus at the top of this page. There were several of these machines in use throughout the works and it was part of my responsibility to maintain the machines and check the accuracy of their readings. After attending a course on poison gas identification at Leeds University, my colleague and I were appointed Gas Identification Officers for the plant. WebRoyal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley: United Kingdom: ROF (M) Royal Ordnance Factory Maltby: United Kingdom: B: The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited: United Kingdom: M47C: Birmingham Small Arms Factory (Shirley) United Kingdom: Longbranch: Longbranch Arsenal: Canada: US PROPERTY : Savage Arms: U.S. POF: Each wall of the first floor is pierced by a wide double splay embrasure, apart from the rear wall which has two embrasures. SOURCES 52 Skipton Road, Steeton with Eastburn (1065896)", "Milestone to front of No. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Staff provided most of their own lunch-time entertainment, but had an ENSA concert once a fortnight. That day's Chronicle carried another story listing the toll of North East job losses over the previous six months. Mother: Ethel Lovell, Nee Peel, Teacher of Pianoforte. Most of the women were on shift work at the plant. Russet mites are a type of pest that can cause damage to leaves, stems, and petioles. The two-storey pillbox and two fire posts at Steeton, Keighley, are recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: On a regular basis there would be entertainment on Fridays in the works canteen. This photo may not represent the current condition of the site, Find out more about Heritage Apprenticeships. This compact, bushy plant produces bright red tomatoes that ripen early in the season. Plans have recently been submitted for 220 homes on the three fields to the south of Steeton ROF where the three pillboxes are sited. What follows is an account of my working life at Steeton during the remainder of WWII. The two-storey pillbox and two fire posts at Steeton, Keighley, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: INTERIOR: Inside the western post (fire post 2), on the north wall is a wooden batten which would have supported a shelf for a telephone. But, above all, it was having the direct experience of being part of an organisation comprising people drawn together by wartime circumstances, collaborating and making ROF Steeton the vital producer it became of 20 mm shells for the war effort. They worked in the inspection department at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Steeton, where Mr Shore was taking advantage of a relaxing of photographic restrictions, outdoors at least, to record such groups. Another was Charles Hurford who produced exploded illustrations of engines for training purposes. Inspection department workers at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Steeton. There was also a group of Irish lasses and a number of Land Girls there. The first floor internal walls are daubed with paint and there is some graffiti, none of original date.EXTERIOR: The fire posts, also known as police or guard posts, are low square buildings with brick walls 13.5 " (34.29cm) thick and flat concrete roofs. 1 and 2 St Stephen's Road, Steeton with Eastburn (1065872)", "Milestone 200 metres north-west of Meadow Field, Steeton with Eastburn (1066024)", "Milestone to front of No. Many thanks for taking the time to do this, it's great to see that just a little effort can bring fantastic results. HP10 9TY. There is a limited amount of modern graffiti.HISTORY: The earliest examples of pillboxes date from the First World War, but the concept was developed in the early stages of the Second World War, when many thousands were built, though only a limited proportion survive. During 1942 when peak production was reached some 700 tons of TNT., 1,000 tons of ammonium nitrate and 40 tons of Tetryl were produced every week. The embrasures are pre- Two fire posts also survive as part of the defensive network around the factory. History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Civil Series, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ROF_Thorp_Arch&oldid=1123978244, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. See our extensive range of expert advice to help you care for and protect historic places. It was a medium-sized filling factory (Filling Factory No. The susceptibility of a particular batch to this kind of failure can be assessed by the mercurous nitrate test. In spite of this and the loss of a cargo of automatic multi-spindle lathes from the USA, by the end of 1942 the plant was operating round the clock and production was high. Father: William Lovell, Professional Baritone and Teacher of Singing * Intactness: the pillbox and two fire posts are unaltered and complete * Intactness: the pillbox and two fire posts are unaltered and complete * Group Value: the pillbox and two fire posts form a group of defensive structures guarding a Royal Ordnance Factory. WebCatalog of military and civilian small arms belonging to Royal Ordnance. * Group Value: the pillbox and two fire posts form a group of defensive structures guarding a Royal Ordnance Factory. Then followed training in the arming and preparing hand grenades, and actually throwing live ones on a range under the supervision of experienced men. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. There are no openings on the ground floor other than the entrance. It takes 60 days for Red Rocket tomatoes to reach maturit, Protect Your Garden Against Leaf Issues with Organic Solutions and Preventative Practices, Leaf issues in the garden can be caused by a variety of factors, from pests to environmental conditions. Statistics were released after the factory's closure stating that it had produced 204 million munition components, including 63 million shells and 120 million 20mm cases. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Behind the anti-ricochet wall is a hatch to the first floor, accessed by a steel ladder of which only the top 2 rungs survive with a portion of handrail and a guard rail. The supply had been wrongly connected. It is believed to have had 619 buildings.[2]. In January 1943, Mrs Winifred Feeney and Mrs Minnie Stovold, two of the factory's shop stewards, were awarded the MBE. It was possible to cycle to Malham at the head of Airedale and to be there within two hours. 2. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. Built to defend a former Royal Ordnance Factory in the Second World War. Only hit I get from the database is Royal Ordnance Factory Steeton, West Yorkshire. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence . June 1920 Terracotta tiles on the roof of Saintoft Lodge, Newton-on-Rawcliffe, Ryedale, North Yorkshire. A great deal of the work was of a routine nature and it involved quality control on incoming materials. The drawing operations consisted of first draw, second draw, third draw and fourth draw each stage with i The bricks used were Phorpres bricks in English garden wall bond, 23" thick on the pillbox. Find out how you can use this. Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Production at Steeton was mainly concentrated on brass cartridge cases for 20 mm Oerlikon and Hispano Suiza ammunition for the armed forces and particularly the RAF. WebThe Steeton pillbox is a variant of Type 24 which was designed for a garrison of eight. This is a list of Royal Ordnance Factories . Royal Arsenal Factory No 1. Royal Small Arms Factory Factory No 2. Royal Powder Mill Factory No 31. ROF Birtley. ROF Bishopton; Explosive ROF (3 factories). ROF Blackburn. ROF Blackpool; SAA Factory. ROF Brackla; Filling Factory No. 11. ROF Bridgend; Filling Factory No. 2. Andy you are a star. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. WebThe Royal Ordnance Factory Bishopton (ROF) was opened during World War II on farm land, acquired. EXTERIOR: The pillbox is a two-storey variant of a Type 24 design, a hexagonal design with the rear wall expanded to accommodate two rifle loopholes rather than one. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Of course working in that environment one met some great characters. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Buildings Scheduled monuments Parks and gardens Battlefields Shipwrecks. This was accomplished by spending a day back at Bradford Technical College with an engineer who had some specialised knowledge. WebTypes of Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs) 1. He was a practical type of man who could turn his hand to anything and he became my valued helper in getting the heat treatment shop operating to a high standard. in Alfs store. On returning to Steeton, the laboratory building was complete and the finishing touches were being given to the laboratories themselves. More than anything the exercise was one of diplomacy in difficult situations and the experience would serve me well in my later career. The extractor ring was formed and the shell trimmed to length. This vital test was carried out as a routine measure. The ground rises to the south towards the eastern end of the field. This listing allows you to trace back a particular company's history in reverse-chronological order. b) Metallurgical and metallographic work. plus overtime pay. Please speak to someone on duty or contact us on the telephone number or email address given below. Each wall of the first floor is pierced by a wide double splay embrasure, apart from the rear wall which has two embrasures. Part of the site is now in use as the Thorp Arch Trading Estate. There was a crisis in the recovery levels of tools during heat-treatment with almost 100% of production being scrapped. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. WW2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts south of Written by Nick Catford on 27 November 2003. After WW1 the Ordnance industry in Britain was gradually dismantled with only a handful of facilities remaining in production by the late 1930s. However with the threat of war, rapid rearmament took place from 1938 with 44 Royal Ordnance factories being built consisting of three main types: Engineering - This type of factory produced bomb and shell casings and other metal-based components for all types of munitions. My military service was deferred until I graduated in June1941. GV II EXTERIOR: The pillbox is a two-storey variant of a Type 24 design, a hexagonal design with the rear wall expanded to accommodate two rifle loopholes rather than one. This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest. The first step was to learn something about the heat treatment of alloy tool steels. The two-storey pillbox and two fire posts at Steeton, Keighley, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Tel: 01327 226 812. The Royal Ordnance Factory was constructed for the Ministry of Supply, with the Ministry of Works acting as agents. The roof is c.9" thick. Having been granted deferment by the Joint Recruiting Board I was interviewed again after graduating and with one of my fellow students, S. C. Mitchell, we were directed to the recently opened Royal Ordnance Factory Number 22 at Steeton, not far from Keighley, Yorkshire. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Search over 1 million photographs and drawings from the 1850s to the present day using our images archive. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There is a limited amount of modern graffiti. WebTypes of Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs) 1. The factory has largely been replaced with later structures, though some original buildings appear to survive amid the later industrial buildings on the site. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: At the time we joined the plant the laboratory facilities were still being constructed and it was decided that we should spend some time training at Radway Green ROF not far from Crewe, Cheshire. In 1941 I continued to live at home in Bradford and travelled daily to Steeton. Committed To The Study & Preservation Of 20th Century United Kingdom & International Pillboxes & Anti-Invasion Defences. Our temporary home was a former rectory in Alsager, about 20 minutes walk from the plant. Aerial view of Ww2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts S of Behind the anti-ricochet wall is a hatch to the first floor, accessed by a steel ladder of which only the top 2 rungs survive with a portion of handrail and a guard rail. Text courtesy of the late Ian Dewhirst MBE. Others were built to defend important installations such as airfields or munitions factories. will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry. The factory has largely been replaced with later structures, though some original buildings appear to survive amid the later industrial buildings on the site. If you want to add or update a link, you In July 1941, after five years at Bradford Technical College, I graduated with a London External Special B.Sc. * Intactness: the pillbox and two fire posts are unaltered and complete ALF, The Workforce and Working Conditions at Steeton.