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Munitions in Worcestershire - Talks, book launch and call for volunteers

9th February 2017

February 2017 marks the centenary of small arms ammunition production at Government Cartridge Factory No 3 Blackpole, more commonly known locally as the Cadbury’s Factory, now forming part of the Blackpole Trading Estate.

Part of the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme, a special event Blackpole Munitions Factory 1917- 2017 will take place on Saturday 25 February, as part of Love Worcester Heritage Festival 2017, commemorating the centenary with a series of talks, the launch of a new illustrated book on the history of the munitions factory as well as inviting people to volunteer to work on a Worcester City Council project to survey the surviving buildings.

Production of ammunition began at Blackpole in February 1917, both of 7.62mm calibre for the Russians and .303 inch for the British Army. When production ceased in 1919, the factory had produced around 200,000,000 cartridges. A high proportion of the workers at the factory were women, and by training and good management, the Blackpole cartridges were of the highest quality, produced at an economical price.

The dark days of 1940, saw the factory requisitioned by the Churchill government to, once again, produce small arms ammunition in both .303 and 9mm calibres, and again using a high proportion of women in its workforce. Post the Second World War, Cadbury’s established their cake-making facility at Blackpole, but in 1974 the site and buildings were sold by Cadbury Schweppes.

The event on Saturday 25 February will see the launch of a new illustrated book on the history of the site, Blackpole Munitions Factory, Worcester, by the late Colin Jones and published by Logaston Press, priced at £10.

The event will also feature a series of short illustrated talks focused on the history of Munitions in Worcestershire, covering The First World War in Worcestershire by Adrian Gregson; The Rotherwas Munitions Factory at Hereford by Andy Johnson; The History of the Blackpole Factory by Aisling Nash; The Factory Today and the Recording Project by James Dinn.

To mark the centenary of the Blackpole factory, Worcester City Council are organising a survey of the surviving buildings. Volunteers are invited to get involved, be trained in rapid building surveying and gain an understanding of the munitions factory, its survival, development and later uses. Anyone interested in joining in can find out more by attending the event. The surveying project will run through until October 2017.

Andy Johnson Logaston Press said: “Blackpole Munitions Factory was hugely significant both in Worcestershire and nationally. Of the four government cartridge factories operating in World War One, this is the only one where standing buildings survive and we look forward to sharing the history of the factory at this special commemorative event and book launch.”

Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred said: “As well as commemorating and remembering the history of the Blackpole Munitions Factory we hope the book and talks will inspire people to get involved in surveying the site themselves, understanding how it functioned and capturing the character and survival of the buildings. The project is a fantastic opportunity for interested people to be part of our centenary commemorations developing their skills and helping us to raise awareness of a WWI site of historical and archaeological interest.”

Blackpole Munitions Factory 1917- 2017 takes place at noon on Saturday 25 February at The Hive as part of Love Worcester Heritage Festival 2017, a week-long celebration Worcestershire’s heritage. Refreshments will be served as part of the book launch.

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