Girvan, Grangestone, Explosives Works

NX29NW65

NX 1997 9977 (centred)

Grangeston Explosives factory was built during World War 2 by ICI to produce TNT (2,4,6 trinitrotoluene) at the behest of the Ministry of Supply (MoS). It was located 3km (2 miles) northeast of Girvan, South Ayrshire and was run as an 'agency' site by ICI for the MoS. The TNT produced was to be used to make military explosives. Its operation was similar to that of the TNT plant at ICI Ardeer near Irvin, Ayrshire.

The factory's construction began in October 1941 and it was made up of two similar but separate units in case of breakdown of either unit. Its 126 buildings (Mixing Stations, Denitration plants, Oleum plants, Gaillard plants, TNT Nitrating Houses) occupied an area of 142 acres along with 2.9 miles of miles of mainline railway for receiving raw materials and dispatching finished product and to bring in the workforce. The factory had 3.13 miles on narrow gauge railway serving the production process. Cooling water was taken from the River Girvan and power from the local electricity supplier. There were two boiler houses producing all process steam.

The first TNT was produced in February 1943 while the factory was still being built as well as the acids required (Nitric and Sulphuric). The sulphuric acid plants were sulphur burning and the nitric acid plants were pressure oxidation plants.

There were 500 female workers and 400 male workers on site by the end of December 1943, together with 96 staff (non-production) and 32 foremen.

Information from MS8270/16 (dates from April 1944).