The explosives factory began life as a gunpowder works in 1892 by Hay, Merricks and Company, gunpowder makers of Roslin, Scotland. The works was a specialised gunpowder works engaging only in the finishing operations of gunpowder.
In 1898 the works were acquired by Curtis's & Harvey who, by this time had a 50% interest of the British gunpowder industry. The flat, open and remoteness of the site at Cliffe was ideal for the construction of a new chemical explosives factory for the manufacture of nitro-glycerine, and nitro-glycerine based products. In June 1901 an amending licence was issued for the manufacture of cordite, blasting gelatine and gelatine dynamite. Further amending licences were granted as the factory expanded including one to manufacture the chlorate based explosive ‘Cheddite’.
The factory developed rapidly soon becoming 'one of the largest and most completely equipped in the Kingdom'. By 1909 the works possessed nearly a mile of frontage on the river with two jetties and a loading wharf.
During World War 1 the factory was listed as a place where either gunpowder was stored or manufactured. At the end of World War One, Curtis's & Harvey became part of Explosives Trades Limited which in turn became Nobel Industries Limited.
The factory eventually succumbed to the downturn in the gunpowder market and subsequently closed in 1921 being left abandoned.
Photos can be found here: www.kentexplor...
27 фев 2024
