Monument record 2820/1 - Ministry of Supply Factory Randle

A chemical weapons production factory facility set up immediately before WWII, located on the east of Wigg island between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey. Access is by a swing bridge at the west end of the island. Factory constructed in 1938 for the production of arsenicals and cyanides for aircraft and ground bombs. Manufacture ceased in 1945, although site maintained by ICI until 1956. From 1956-61 site used for destruction of UK's mustard stocks. Equipment decontaminated and dismantled 1961. 1969 remaining derelict buildings flattened, buried in concrete and covered with up to 10m of soil. Site now a landfill site, plans to cover works by a depth of 30m. Two buildings remain - one used to house a bulldozer/digger, other is a derelict former electricity sub station(1).

<1> 1997, UK Declaration of Past Activities Relating to its Former Offensive Chemical Weapons Programme, /14-25 (Book). SCH3792.