I had stumbled upon this place whilst looking for other things. I am surprised it’s not been documented on here before, in fact there ain’t much documentation of it at all, and why I like things like this, places not well trodden. It’s not on the scale as other gunpowder works like Bishopton, Ardeer, Gretna and so on. But it’s not surprising as it only lasted the course of the war. The place is in the middle of nowhere, and part of the old site is used as a nature reserve, with osprey to be seen. Carsegowan moss is not surprisingly known for its Sphagnum Moss, a moss that covers the ground on heaths and moors and is essential in the creation of peat bogs. Even though the site is not the biggest gunpowder works, it’s still bigger than you think. I also had to traipse though long damp grass, I would also hate to walk through here in the winter, I can imagine it would be very boggy. But even though I had soaking feet it was lovely with butterflies everywhere and birds, even see a lot of fungi in the damp areas. It’s actually a very complete site still with two black powder mills, quite a few hidden storage bunkers, near the front is a house that was used to house the police. It had workshops, office blocks, laundry, fire station, charcoal burners and so on. Sadly two buildings had gone from so older pics I had seen and a new building placed there. A few other bits have been repurposed and been in use for years.
With the outbreak of the Second World War munitions were needed in great supply. Munition factories were buillt, a lot in Scotland like this one. It was built to produce the gunpowder and black powder, though no shells were filled here. A rail siding came into the site from a main line, and the gunpowder was transported on train to larger sites. Sadly even though it had a short shelf life as a works. It still had three explosions there, all with loss of life. The first two had happened in the mills and one in the blender. The last and biggest one happened in the Corning house. These accidents were common at gunpowder works, often through human error. Little narrow gauge rails ran through the site to transport materials around. Sadly I did not see any of these, though I know they exist. A lot of locals worked in the factory and it was highly secretive and I would imagine the official secrets act had to be signed.
Starting with what looks like a small guard house what was near the police house near the main entry gates.
Heading down the track is were you had all the main buildings. sadly only the end one is now accessible.
The mills are either side of the main track. So a fight through long grass to get too the first one. It contained little rooms underneath with skylights.
Along the building are tall rooms, and one had been absolutely crammed with recyclable material, whatever got recycled.
A concrete jetty spurs off from the mill to this building. The jetty the continues for ages tapering down to the ground slowly.
Heading to the rear of the site and there are quite a few of these mound covered bunkers. I suppose the mounds would help keep an explosion in check a bit. And these are quite spaced apart.
I did spot a few of these larger buildings as well.
Heading to the other mill, first we have a sentry post.
And finally there was a few of these little huts in a line.
With the outbreak of the Second World War munitions were needed in great supply. Munition factories were buillt, a lot in Scotland like this one. It was built to produce the gunpowder and black powder, though no shells were filled here. A rail siding came into the site from a main line, and the gunpowder was transported on train to larger sites. Sadly even though it had a short shelf life as a works. It still had three explosions there, all with loss of life. The first two had happened in the mills and one in the blender. The last and biggest one happened in the Corning house. These accidents were common at gunpowder works, often through human error. Little narrow gauge rails ran through the site to transport materials around. Sadly I did not see any of these, though I know they exist. A lot of locals worked in the factory and it was highly secretive and I would imagine the official secrets act had to be signed.
Starting with what looks like a small guard house what was near the police house near the main entry gates.
Heading down the track is were you had all the main buildings. sadly only the end one is now accessible.
The mills are either side of the main track. So a fight through long grass to get too the first one. It contained little rooms underneath with skylights.
Along the building are tall rooms, and one had been absolutely crammed with recyclable material, whatever got recycled.
A concrete jetty spurs off from the mill to this building. The jetty the continues for ages tapering down to the ground slowly.
Heading to the rear of the site and there are quite a few of these mound covered bunkers. I suppose the mounds would help keep an explosion in check a bit. And these are quite spaced apart.
I did spot a few of these larger buildings as well.
Heading to the other mill, first we have a sentry post.
And finally there was a few of these little huts in a line.
