National Shell Filling Factory Memorial

This memorial features a concrete stepped pyramid with three tiers, topped by a short obelisk and encircled by white-painted shell casings linked by chains. The structure stands within Chetwynd Barracks and marks the site of one of World War I's largest munitions facilities.

The memorial was erected to honor 134 workers killed in a catastrophic explosion on July 1, 1918. The site had previously been Britain's largest munitions factory.

The memorial honors workers known as Chilwell Canaries, whose skin turned yellow from handling explosives during World War I. This visible mark became a badge of their dangerous work in ammunition production.

The memorial is located within Chetwynd Barracks on Chetwynd Road and is Grade II listed. Visits require advance permission due to active military operations at the site.

Workers continued filling ammunition at the site immediately after the devastating explosion, ultimately producing over 19 million shells throughout World War I. This output demonstrates the enormous industrial scale of the operation.

Location: Broxtowe

GPS coordinates: 52.91186,-1.24506

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21