Brackla
Encyclopedia
Brackla is a large housing estate in the east of Bridgend
in Bridgend County Borough, Mid Glamorgan
, Wales
. It has a population of 10,113, making up nearly a quarter of Bridgend's population alone.
, Brackla and the Brackla Industrial Estate was farm land. In 1936, noting the building propensity of war by Adolf Hitler
and the Nazi regime, the British Government agreed creation of two new Royal Ordnance Factories
, including one at Bridgend on the site of what is now Bridgend Industrial Estate. Needing to store munitions, they eventually dug eight long shafts under Brackla Hill, connecting it to two new ROF's on what is now Brackla Industrial Estate. Both facilities were connected to the Great Western Railway
South Wales Main Line
, with the line to the Barckla facility running along what is now Church Acre. At its peak, ROF 53 employed some 40,000 people, and was the biggest single factory in Western Europe
.
Once World War II
ceased main operations, ROF 53 stopped production at the end of 1945, and closed completely by the end of 1946. The land was sold to property developers, with that north of the railway developed as a housing.
on behalf of the Home Office
as a nuclear command bunker for South Wales, designated SRHQ 8.2. As North Wales was devoid of such a suitable facility, Brackla became the regional control centre for all of Wales, redesignated RGHQ 8.2. Sold in 1996, it has been derelict ever since.
Bro Ogwr.
Brackla contains a small shopping centre, named the Triangle, consisting of a supermarket and other convenience stores. Brackla also has several Public Houses situated throughout the area.
Brackla Community Council has recently begun work to gain Nature Reserve status for the local Tremains Wood. The area had come under abuse in recent years and the council aims to clean it up, with the eventual aim of replacing the bridges and have structured woodland walkways.
facility on the former station site, to serve both Brackla and the wider Bridgend area.
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
in Bridgend County Borough, Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It has a population of 10,113, making up nearly a quarter of Bridgend's population alone.
History
Until 1936, the 900 acres (3.6 km²) of land occupied east to west by the Bridgend Industrial EstateBridgend Industrial Estate
Bridgend Industrial Estate is a large industrial park complex in Bridgend, Wales.It is made up of three adjoining Industrial Estates, being Waterton, Bridgend, and North Road and incorporating a retail park in Waterton.- History :...
, Brackla and the Brackla Industrial Estate was farm land. In 1936, noting the building propensity of war by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and the Nazi regime, the British Government agreed creation of two new Royal Ordnance Factories
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
, including one at Bridgend on the site of what is now Bridgend Industrial Estate. Needing to store munitions, they eventually dug eight long shafts under Brackla Hill, connecting it to two new ROF's on what is now Brackla Industrial Estate. Both facilities were connected to the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
South Wales Main Line
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
, with the line to the Barckla facility running along what is now Church Acre. At its peak, ROF 53 employed some 40,000 people, and was the biggest single factory in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
.
Once World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ceased main operations, ROF 53 stopped production at the end of 1945, and closed completely by the end of 1946. The land was sold to property developers, with that north of the railway developed as a housing.
Nuclear Bunker
In the late 1960s, two of the former munitions tunnels were redeveloped by the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
on behalf of the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
as a nuclear command bunker for South Wales, designated SRHQ 8.2. As North Wales was devoid of such a suitable facility, Brackla became the regional control centre for all of Wales, redesignated RGHQ 8.2. Sold in 1996, it has been derelict ever since.
Today
Brackla has five primary schools; Brackla primary, Tremains Infants & Juniors; Archdeacon John Lewis Church in Wales School & Ysgol cymraegBro Ogwr.
Brackla contains a small shopping centre, named the Triangle, consisting of a supermarket and other convenience stores. Brackla also has several Public Houses situated throughout the area.
Brackla Community Council has recently begun work to gain Nature Reserve status for the local Tremains Wood. The area had come under abuse in recent years and the council aims to clean it up, with the eventual aim of replacing the bridges and have structured woodland walkways.
Transport
During World War II, the GWR station at Tramaines Halt provided service to ROF 53. Closed after operations ceased at ROF 53, there is an ongoing investigation by Bridgend Borough Council to install a Park and RidePark and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facility on the former station site, to serve both Brackla and the wider Bridgend area.