Rhydymwyn Valley Chemical, Works WW2 Top Secret Facility

WW2 war time graffiti still evident.

rhydymwynvalleyhistory.co.uk/

The site occupies around 35 hectares of the Alyn Valley, to the south of the village of Rhydymwyn (centred on SJ 205 668). Once part of the extensive Gwysaney Estate, the Parish of Rhydymwyn was established in 1865. Lead mining in the area is known to have been extensive, and a foundry associated with nearby mines is depicted on several early maps for the area. Following the closure of the foundry land use on the site was largely agricultural in character. However, in 1939 the land was purchased by the Ministry of Supply and developed as a purpose built chemical weapons factory and storage facility.

Over 100 specialised buildings were constructed across the site, linked by an extensive rail network established around a spur off the Chester to Denbigh mainline. Other major landscaping undertaken at this time included the canalisation and culverting of the River Alyn, and the excavation of a complex of interlinked subterranean, rock-cut tunnels and caverns. During World War II the plant produced ordnance containing mustard gas, and was associated with the development of the Atom Bomb. In the immediate Post-War period the site was used to store German nerve gas, and it was not until the 1950s when Britain relinquished its chemical weapons (CW) capability that the site as a chemical storage facility was defunct. However, the site remains on the international Chemical Weapons List, and is still monitored as such.

From the mid-1960s the site was used by various governmental departments, its major function being a buffer storage depot to supply emergency rations and foodstuffs, and associated facilities such as mobile bakeries and canteens. In 1994 the site was closed, and a programme of demolition was undertaken. This involved the dropping of buildings onto their footprints, and the rubble being mounded over with topsoil. Several major structures, and many ancillary buildings, still survive across the site.

The surviving buildings are a reminder of a huge building programme that changed the face of Britain forever and the site remains as unique today as it was at its inception

Taken in: United Kingdom / Wales / Rhydymwyn (show map)

Taken on: June 18, 2017

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Sets appears in: • Rhydymwyn Valley Works WW2 Top Secret Facility

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Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, f/4.0, 1/60 sec, 105mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	105mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	+5/3 EV
Flash:	On, Fired
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
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