Ardeer nitroglycerine factory
| Ardeer nitroglycerine factory | |
|---|---|
Women mixing dynamite at the factory in 1897 | |
Ardeer nitroglycerine factory | |
| Built | 1871 |
| Location | Ardeer peninsula, Stevenston, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°37′17″N 4°43′25″W / 55.62149°N 4.72352°W |
| Industry | Dynamite and explosives |
| Employees | 13000 |
| Area | 2000+ acres |
| Owner(s) | Alfred Nobel |
| Defunct | 1990s |
Ardeer nitroglycerine factory was an explosives factory, located on the Ardeer Peninsula, Ardeer North Ayrshire, Scotland that was built by Alfred Bernhard Nobel and operated from 1871[1] to the 1990's.[2]
Formation
When Alfred Nobel came to Britain to promote the use of nitroglycerine and search for finances for a new manufacturing plant, nitroglycerine had a bad reputation with the British government.[1]
On 3 April 1866, the SS European, a 1700-ton steamship carrying 70 crates of nitroglycerin, spontaneously blew up in Colón, Panama, killing 50 sailors (sources vary) and destroying the ship.[3]
In 1863 and 1864, Alfred Nobel was awarded UK patents on the use of Nitroglycerine as an explosive.[4] This was followed by a Dynamite patent award by the British government on 12 February 1869.[4]
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b Schuck & Sohlman 1929, p. 263.
- ^ Dolan & Oglethorpe 1996, p. 10.
- ^ Pauli, Hertha (1942). Alfred Nobel, dynamite king, architect of peace (1st ed.). New York: L.B. Fischer. p. 93.
- ^ a b Schuck & Sohlman 1929, p. 114.
Bibliography
- Dolan, John E.; Oglethorpe, Miles K. (1996). EXPLOSIVES IN THE SERVICE OF MAN Ardeer and The Nobel Heritage. Edinburgh: Royal Commission of on the Ancient and Modern Monuments of Scotland. p. 10. ISBN 0748058117.
- Schuck, H; Sohlman, R (1929). "Early Days at the Ardeer Factory". The Life Of Alfred Noble. London: William Heinemann Ltd. p. 263.