[The Cat Crept In]

Valley Works
The Valley Works acquired its’ name in 1939 when the Ministry of Supply instructed ICI’s Special Products Division to construct a factory and storage area in the Alyn Valley close to Rhydymwyn. The factory was to manufacture mustard gas. In the years 1940-1959 it was involved in the manufacturing, assembly or storage of chemical weapons or mustard gas in bulk containers. During the years 1947-1959 the tunnel complex held the majority of the country’s stock of mustard gas. In the post-war years major quantities of lower grade mustard gas was prepared for sea dumping.
The Alyn Valley at Rhydymwyn has good road and rail links, water from mines and the Alwen Reservoir (Birkenhead Water) but not from the River Alyn which flows for only four months each year. There was also ample electricity from the North West Power Company's Hawarden sub-station. On one side of the valley has a limestone hill. The valley was also in a flood plain with a meandering river coursing the valley. It is 6 miles from the tidal Dee Estuary but close to the chemical/industrial complexes of Runcorn/Widnes/Warrington. The site was known as the 'secret factory' as it was the only second world war weapons factory never found or targeted by enemy aircraft. It was where a particular form of mustard gas called Runcol was made.


In this building, scientists carried out early research into the creation of the Atomic Bomb the project, known as Tube Alloys was top secret.







In this area, bombs were filled with explosive charge, fuses and pyrotechnics. It was the most dangerous job in the factory because of the risk of explosion.
(THIS IS A VERY OLD PICTURE)



The Tunnels were used to store the Mustard gas and Munitions created in the factory.




































Thank you.