Grade II listed pillboxes in the middle of a housing estate in Steeton! The anti-ricochet wall continues up through the first floor to the roof. This was Christmas of 1941, and the simple decorations and absence of festive cheer suggests the bleakness of the period. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. 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. Hanson Junior School: 1930 -1931 Quick Facts. INTERIOR: Access is via the rear door on the ground floor, and there is a transverse anti-ricochet wall across the interior. 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. HP10 9TY. Samples were taken from all stages of production and submitted to metallographic examination and to hardness testing using the Vickers Pyramidal number system. And so we started and slowly succeeded in increasing the number of high quality tools being produced. Our temporary home was a former rectory in Alsager, about 20 minutes walk from the plant. WebBirtley is the home of the Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Birtley and the Komatsu Heavy Engineering Company, which operates from the previous premises of Birtley Iron Works (opened in 1827, which became premises of the Caterpillar Company in the mid-20th century). Google earth edob overlay is now available here. After attending a course on poison gas identification at Leeds University, my colleague and I were appointed Gas Identification Officers for the plant. 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. For each delivery, samples were taken and the quality checked. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Dobinson, C.S., Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Vol II, Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII (1996), 157-67REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: Manufacturing Process for 20 mm Cartridge Cases. REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The anti-ricochet wall continues up through the first floor to the roof. For any other comments, please Contact Us. There was a handicraft room with facilities for doing leatherwork under the direction of a lady named Miss Crawley. 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. It contains 25 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Engineering Factory First opened as a munitions factory in December 1915 First opened as an ROF January 1936 One of a number of Royal Ordnance Search over 1 million photographs and drawings from the 1850s to the present day using our images archive. Discover and use our high-quality applied research to support the protection and management of the historic environment. 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. Its workforce was brought in by special trains and buses from 62 towns and villages in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Bradford Technical College There is a wide, internally splayed embrasure on each wall, pre-cast in two pieces, an upper and a lower half. The embrasures are pre-cast, consisting of four parts; sill, two jambs and lintel, and have a wider internal splay than the external. 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. Listed buildings in Steeton with Eastburn, Milestone in front of 52 Skipton Road, Eastburn, Milestone in front of 10 Keighley Road, Steeton, "Nos. There are no openings on the ground floor other than the entrance. There were 16 such sites around the country and Risley was known as Filling Factory No. The Steeton works was equipped with a first class tool room for the production of the press tools and form tools used throughout the plant. 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. cast, consisting of four parts; sill, two jambs and lintel, and have a wider internal splay than the external. Steeton was close to Skipton and virtually in the Yorkshire Dales. All site content is copyright to The Men of Worth Project Community Interest Company from 2007 to the present day, unless otherwise indicated. My responsibility was for the remainder of the work. The objective of the Steeton laboratory was to control the quality of the materials used in the manufacture of the various end products. Beneath the embrasure on one side is the entrance, and extending from the wall alongside is a low brick wall with a right angle return facing the entrance. HP10 9TY. planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself. The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. Most of the operatives were from local towns. The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. The Steeton pillbox is a variant of Type 24 which was designed for a garrison of eight. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Beneath the embrasure on one side is the entrance, and extending from the wall alongside is a low brick wall with a right angle return facing the entrance. The Royal Ordnance Factory at Steeton Dump was built from scratch in late 1940 and began production in early 1941. Comments have been closed on this article. The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. The two-storey pillbox and two fire posts at Steeton, Keighley, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Church of St. Stephen and attached wall and entrance gate-piers and gates, Barn 12 Metres North East of the High Hall, Walls and 2 Entrance Gate Piers Including Gates and Railings to South East of the Hall, WW2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts South of Former Royal Ordnance Factory. * Intactness: the pillbox and two fire posts are unaltered and complete The pillbox and fire posts are of brick construction with reinforced concrete roofs and precast concrete embrasures, and the pillbox also has a shuttered concrete first floor. Entry Name: WW2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts South of Former Royal Ordnance Factory, Location: Steeton with Eastburn, Bradford, BD20, Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): West Yorkshire, Church of England Parish: Steeton St Stephen, Tagged with: Working seven days a week continued for about two years and, gradually, it was possible to have Saturday afternoon and Sunday off. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to The hardness of finished cartridge cases at intervals along their entire length was determined and the results plotted in graphical form against the control levels. WebRoyal Ordnance L30. Bit of an update on the work so far and plans for the future. The two-storey pillbox and two fire posts at Steeton, Keighley, are recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: 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: ALF, The Workforce and Working Conditions at Steeton. 3. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please WebAerial view of Ww2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts S of Former Royal Ordnance Factory, Steeton with Eastburn, England. The Steeton pillbox is a variant of Type 24 which was designed for a garrison of eight. 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. Because we were eligible for overtime pay we clocked on and off on arrival and departure at the works. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Only hit I get from the database is Royal Ordnance Factory Steeton, West Yorkshire. The susceptibility of a particular batch to this kind of failure can be assessed by the mercurous nitrate test. There were no weekends or days off. Andy you are a star. Read about our current news, projects and campaigns nationally and in your area. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We also discuss how to identify the cause and the best treatments for each type of pest. It is an improved production model of the Royal Ordnance L11 series of rifled tank guns. One was required to manage the chemistry laboratory and the other to look after the metallographic and metallurgical side of things. 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. There was a 1,000-seater canteen which merited an ENSA concert every fortnight, plus home-grown entertainment in-between, and which was supported by a farm keeping up to 30 pigs at a time. 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. In July 1941, after five years at Bradford Technical College, I graduated with a London External Special B.Sc. * Rarity: the pillbox is an extremely rare example of a two-storey Type 24 pillbox from the Second World War, one of only four known surviving examples Excellent. * Intactness: the pillbox and two fire posts are unaltered and complete In this article, we explore the possibility of russet mites, thrips, spider mites, and other causes of leaf damage. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Please contact us through our Submit page form to add a person to the archive. (Off) read more on the Staff who worked there. WW2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts south of WebThe Royal Ordnance Factory Bishopton (ROF) was opened during World War II on farm land, acquired. Grade II Listed Building: Ww2 Pillbox And 2 Fire Posts South Of Former Royal Ordnance Factory. WebSteeton with Eastburn, Bradford, BD20 II Barn 15 Metres North East of Eastburn House Steeton with Eastburn, Bradford, BD20 II Eastburn House Steeton with Eastburn, Bradford, BD20 II WW2 Pillbox and 2 Fire Posts South of Former Royal Ordnance Factory Steeton with Eastburn, Bradford, BD20 II Milestone to Front of Number 52 Engineering - This type of factory produced bomb and shell casings and other metal-based components for all types of munitions. 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. There are no openings on the ground floor other than the entrance. Primary: Lorne Street School, Wake [field Road, Bradford 1925 - 1928 The factory has in Alfs store. * Rarity: the pillbox is an extremely rare example of a two-storey Type 24 pillbox from the Second World War, one of only four known surviving examples contact the editor here. I remember one of the local regimental bands performing some stirring music and finishing with the trumpeters playing the Post Horn Gallop. We are also researching conscientious objectors from the area. WebRoyal Ordnance Factory Wrexham. There was a substantial difference in pay and the scope of the work was broadly comparable. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2023. The empty cases were filled at specialized explosives plants. Comments have been closed on this article. Construction work on Thorp Arch began on 18 May 1940 and the completion date was scheduled for the end of July 1941. 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. 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. 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. Source Historic England Archive BB83/04456. The plant was designed to be defended and there was a system of Block Houses at strategic points around the perimeter At the centre of the site there was an armoury and a secure store for rifles and grenades. I specially remember Alf who ran Alfs Store from which the machinists could borrow specific pieces of equipment in return for surrendering a token. During the first few months the heat treatment room was only partially equipped for hardening and tempering of sophisticated high speed tool steels and yet there was a critical need for success. Beneath the embrasure on one side is the entrance, and extending from the wall alongside is a low brick wall with a right angle return facing the entrance. Vital machines were silent. The ground rises to the south towards the eastern end of the field. There are three 'police'/guard/pillboxes on site plus two 'Consul' fire watchers shelters still in situ on top of the main building. read more about Steeton Royal Ordnance Factory. public. Other parts are used to house the Northern Reading Room, Northern Listening Service and Document Supply Centre of the British Library. An update. Heritage Apprentices in a training session on the Researching The Historic Environment module and training in Architectural Photography. Use our map search to find more listed places. Most of the women were on shift work at the plant. It is in stone and, The milestone is on the south side of Keighley Road (B6265 road). I became an excellent shot and was a member of a Rifle Club in West Acton where I was employed for four years after the end of the war. The material for cartridge case production was cartridge brass 70/30 copper/ zinc composition. * Group Value: the pillbox and two fire posts form a group of defensive structures guarding a Royal Ordnance Factory, identified in the national selection criteria as a valid claim to special interest. SOURCES plus overtime pay. Bradford Grammar School: Thornville Preparatory 1928 -1930 This example includes some nice human details. The house, which was later altered and refronted, is in stone, The barn was extended to the left later in the 18th century. I start my new job on monday so will be in touch sometime during the week to arrange a visit. Our earliest records are of soldiers who fought before the Battle of Waterloo! Search over 400,000 listed places. The Royal Ordnance Factory at Steeton Dump was built from scratch in late 1940 and began production in early 1941. The Trades Union was enormously powerful and there had been strikes relating to piece work in the tool room. The ROF site has been described in detail in two articles by Mike Christensen, illustrated with official photographs taken whilst it was still open. A contractor cutting bricks for the wall of the partially-restored wild and natural walled garden at Warley Place, Brentwood. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. Please contact us through our Submit page form to add a person to the archive. One aspect that really annoyed me was that I was not allowed to keep records of the improvement in the scrapping rate of the numbers of tools during heat treatment and so to illustrate the progress being made. Former Royal Ordnance Factory. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. On a regular basis there would be entertainment on Fridays in the works canteen. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. This involved two distinct categories of work:-, a) Chemical analysis 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. At its peak it employed more than 4,000, two-thirds of whom were women. Listed Building ID 1393602 view listed building data. 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. [1] The site was connected to the London & North Eastern Railway * Rarity: the pillbox is an extremely rare example of a two-storey Type 24 pillbox from the Second World War, one of only four known surviving examples It is in stone, with, The bridge, which carries Keighley Road (A6034 road) over the, The remaining parts of the former spinning mill have been converted for residential use, and are built in stone with, A pair of stone cottages with stone slate roofs and two storeys. Accommodation became available in early 1942 in the workers hostel known as Howden Hall. The ground rises to the south towards the eastern end of the field. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Click to enlarge. This operation was carried out in horizontal presses in which the thickness of the wall of the component was reduced to its specified thickness. Text courtesy of the late Ian Dewhirst MBE. Routine Testing of Samples from all Stages of Production. By August, 1945, it was to have made 204 million munition components, including 63 million shells and 120 million cases. Staff provided most of their own lunch-time entertainment, but had an ENSA concert once a fortnight. Also, Keighleys motto is By Worth, which fits rather neatly with our name. WebThe example at Steeton falls into the latter category, and was part of the defences around the Royal Ordnance Factory. There are a The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public. See our extensive range of expert advice to help you care for and protect historic places. Our earliest records are of soldiers who fought before the Battle of Waterloo! This copy shows the entry on 01-Mar-2023 at 12:33:42. This patent covers not only the Grub's Mystery Green, but also Brads Atomic Grape and Barrys Crazy Cherry. But The Lord help them that I find helping themselves Music While You Work was broadcast twice a day in the production shops and was very popular. Brown, Burridge, Clarke, Guy, Hellis, Lowry, Ruckley & Thomas: 20th Century Defences in Britain (1996), 66-85 Dobinson, C.S., Twentieth Century Fortifications in England: Vol II, Anti-Invasion contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. This was designed, primarily for women workers, and was situated in Silsden, about two miles north of the plant. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. On returning to Steeton, the laboratory building was complete and the finishing touches were being given to the laboratories themselves. In touch sometime during the week to arrange a visit site is part of wall. Employed more than 4,000, two-thirds of whom were women the plant the National Heritage for! Contact us through our Submit page form to add a person to the of... 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For the end of July 1941 for your plants there were 16 such sites around the Royal Ordnance L11 of. Of samples from all stages of production 24 which was designed for a garrison of.! Is copyright to the south side of Keighley Road ( B6265 Road ) departure at the top the.