Ardeer, Ici Works, Nobel's Explosives, Nitro-glycerine Hill No. 2
Explosives Factory (19th Century) - (20th Century)
Site Name Ardeer, Ici Works, Nobel's Explosives, Nitro-glycerine Hill No. 2
Classification Explosives Factory (19th Century) - (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Nobel's Explosives Factory
Canmore ID 89472
Site Number NS23NE 1.03
NGR NS 286 398
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/89472
![Scanned image showing interior view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks (NS 2876 3983)](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC00371627.jpg)
![General view from NE up Nitroglycerine [NG] Hill No.2, with acid storage tanks (AJ3, left, NS 2871 3990) and Glycerine Storage building AJ2 (right, NS 2868 3991). Brick building halfway up slope is Light Sodium Carbonate building (AJ5) used to neutralise NG](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC02532133.jpg)
![Interior view of building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks with enclosed belfast roof trusses above](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC02532115.jpg)
![Detailed view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing three NG lead tanks, and lead sink on far wall](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC02532116.jpg)
![Oblique interior view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks (NS 2876 3983)](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC02532114.jpg)
![General view from NE up Nitroglycerine [NG] Hill No.2, with acid storage tanks (AJ3, left, NS 2871 3990) and Glycerine Storage building AJ2 (right, NS 2868 3991). Brick building halfway up slope is Light Sodium Carbonate building (AJ5) used to neutralise NG](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/SC02532132.jpg)
![Scanned image showing interior view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks (NS 2876 3983)](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC00371627.jpg)
![General view from NE up Nitroglycerine [NG] Hill No.2, with acid storage tanks (AJ3, left, NS 2871 3990) and Glycerine Storage building AJ2 (right, NS 2868 3991). Brick building halfway up slope is Light Sodium Carbonate building (AJ5) used to neutralise NG](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC02532133.jpg)
![Interior view of building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks with enclosed belfast roof trusses above](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC02532115.jpg)
![Detailed view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing three NG lead tanks, and lead sink on far wall](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC02532116.jpg)
![Oblique interior view inside building AC2, a Nitroglycerine [NG] separation and storage house, showing NG bogie on scales and three NG lead tanks (NS 2876 3983)](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC02532114.jpg)
![General view from NE up Nitroglycerine [NG] Hill No.2, with acid storage tanks (AJ3, left, NS 2871 3990) and Glycerine Storage building AJ2 (right, NS 2868 3991). Brick building halfway up slope is Light Sodium Carbonate building (AJ5) used to neutralise NG](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/SC02532132.jpg)
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Stevenston
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Ayrshire
Publication Account (29 January 2021)
Nitro-glycerine Hill is a production unit producing nitro-glycerine, constructed on a hill (usually artificially created) with the nitrator house at the top, to take advantage of gravity by allowing the Nitro-glycerine (NG) and waste liquids to flow down through a sequence of wash, separator and labyrinth houses, usually via a network of lead-lined gutters and pipes, accumulated Nitro-glycerine being collected in a ‘C’ House. Dependence on gravity was essential as pumping Nitro-glycerine can cause detonation.
Nitro-glycerine or glycerine tri-nitrate was discovered by Ascanio Sobrero in 1846. An organic nitrate - the key to most commercial explosives as it provides oxygen which in combination with a fuel, provides the source of power when sensitised to explosion – and a molecular explosive (as distinct from a mixture of chemicals), which detonate sin the open even when not confined. Nitro-glycerine is a high explosive and a principle component in many types of commercial high explosives, the first of which was Dynamite in vented by Alfred Nobel in 1866. It is too dangerous to use in its natural form but prior to the invention of dynamite it was used for blasting and it was also known as ‘blasting oil’.
JE Dolan and MK Oglethorpe, 1996.
