Banbury’s First World War Munitions Factory

On the edge of Banbury about 20 miles North of Oxford, lies the overgrown and overlooked site of ’ National Filling Factory No. 9′, one of only two surviving First World War Lyddite shell filling factories in Britain, and the only one to be designated as a Scheduled Monument by Historic England. In the Advice Report of June 2012 it was noted that ‘its contribution to the war effort and to the outcome of WW1 make it a site of national and international significance’.

During 2014 Banbury Museum received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to mark the anniversary of the First World War with the project ‘Feeding the Front Line: Banbury’s Explosive Role in the First World War’.

Through guided sites visits and a major exhibtion this project made it possible for local residents, in particular young people, to explore and learn about the role of the munitions factory in the war and the stories of those who worked there.

The full story project was published in one of the newsletters of the International Council of Museums. Please see pages 9-12. CAMOC NEWS

Banbury’ Museum’s film about the National Filling Factory https://vimeo.com/user4672630/review/127478221/b9684d7ab7

National Filling Factory,Banbury.