The Royal Naval Cordite Factory - Holton Heath.

    Location: Near Poole in dorset. Current site use: Mixed industrial and nature reserve.
    The factory was constructed during WW1 in order to supply the Admiralty with reliable and good quality propellant (Cordite)
.
   The background picture shows the acetone factory. Acetone was used as a solvent in certain types of cordite and was produced in this plant by fermentation of corn, chestnuts or acorns.

    Follow the links below for details of the processes involved:    

    The Nitration process

    The Mixing process 
                                                                                                                       
    Drying and Incorporation

    Site plan 1

    Site plan 2

    Further information on RNCF

    A Pictorial Record of the RNCF (Bowditch & Hayward)


























All Photographs (c) Crown.