Runcorn Memories: 'Hush Hush' works revisted

By Runcorn And Widnes Weekly News on Jul 10, 09 10:03 AM in 1900-1999

RUNCORN'S wartime role in the production of mustard gas at the Ministry of Supply factory at Randle Works, Wigg Island, is now part of the town's industrial history.

But not so well known in this part of the world is the part played by the Flintshire site at Rhydymwyn Valley, Mold.

And one man who had an important role in the top secret work at both Randle and Rhydymwyn Valley was William John (Bill) Henney, of Moughland Lane.

Now in his 95th year, Bill went to Randle at the outbreak of the war.

It was known locally as the 'Hush Hush' works.

From there he went on to the Flintshire site before helping to start up a third factory at Springfields, Preston.

Bill went to the Valley site as member of the setting up team in 1940.

He was there for a year and became shift manager.

After helping to get the place in order, he left in 1941 to go to the next factory at Preston.

The Valley site employed as many as 1,756 people, manufacturing 40,000, 25lb shells per week. The site was also engaged in atomic research in the early 1940s.

It is now open to visitors who are able to see the extent of the central tunnel now the doors have been opened.

Bill Henney recalls that in some way it was like working with any other chemical but it was much more dangerous.

"The war was on and we had to make the stuff," he said.

"Winston Churchill was convinced that gas warfare would break out on a very large scale very quickly.

"He was pushing us all the time. The men on nights worked from nine until seven and had to come back on the Saturday afternoon.

"Many of them didn't go home."

There are now more than 100 members of the Valley History Society, which runs the Rhydymwyn site.

Bill is in no doubt that the success of the venture is due entirely to the efforts of one man, Colin Barber, of Holywell, a local historian.

"He has worked tirelessly and single-handedly for more than two years to get the society going and the Rhydymwyn site recognised as a significant historical monument."

Bill drove to the site last year - his first visit for 60 years.

And he was able to tell Colin something about life at the factory in 1940 and later.
After finishing at Preston before the end of the war, Bill returned to Runcorn and joined the research lab at the Castner Kellner Works.

Bill has been retired for the past retired 33 years.

Agreement struck to open Valley Works in Rhydymwyn site to the public

A GOVERNMENT-OWNED site was for years so secret it was never even shown on maps of the area.

But now the Valley Works in Rhydymwyn has been transformed into a nature reserve and a place of historic interest.

The site is now open for managed access.

The development has been made possible thanks to co-operation between its owners, the estates division of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and North East Wales Wildlife.

They have signed a 10-year agreement with Defra to manage the reserve.
Now, visitors can explore a site where munitions that played an important part in Britain's defence were made.

It was also a location where early research was carried out into the development of the first atomic bomb.

Visitors can see how nature has reclaimed one of Britain's Second World War chemical warfare plants.

The future development of the site will involve further surveys to establish the extent and variety of the flora, fauna and wildlife there.

It will enable the site to be managed as a nature reserve and a location of historic interest.

To this end, a wildlife management plan has been produced to maintain and enhance the natural and wildlife presence on the site.

To read another article on the 'Hush Hush' works please click here

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