Admiralty Park, Holton Heath, near Poole, Dorset BH16 6HX

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Brief description

https://www.admiraltypark.co.uk/history/

"The History of Admiralty Park:

Admiralty Park comprises part of the former Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, originally a square mile site constructed in 1915 on the specific orders of Winston Churchill, the then First Lord of the Admiralty. The primary reason for its’ construction was to ensure the Royal Navy obtained a significant quantity of finest quality cordite, this being the primary ingredient for the propellant of ordnance.

The site represented a magnificent achievement in that construction took around a year to complete despite having to provide a power station, reservoir, train station and numerous factory buildings.

For the remainder of the First World War, around 2,000 people were employed on the site although, by its heyday in 1938, this had grown to 4,500 workers.

After the end of the Second World War production reduced to the point where, in 1957, it ceased altogether. The facility continued as an operational Naval establishment primarily concerned with underwater activities and cutting edge technologies with a reduced workforce of between 300 and 400 up until the gates closed in 1997.

In 2003, DRA Holton Heath, (now re-branded as Admiralty Park), was sold by Defence Estates to Birchmere Limited, a Poole-based commercial property developer and investor who are systematically working through the site, improving infrastructure and refurbishing to modern standards the original buildings wherever possible to provide a unique business park within a mature woodland setting."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Cordite_Factory,_Holton_Heath

2025: "The Royal Naval Cordite Factory, Holton Heath (RNCF) was set up at Holton Heath, Dorset, England, in World War I to manufacture cordite for the Royal Navy. It was reactivated in World War II to manufacture gun propellants for the Admiralty and its output was supplemented by the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, Caerwent. After the end of World War II, the explosive manufacturing areas of the site were closed down and some areas of the site reopened as the Admiralty Materials Laboratory. A major part of the explosives site became a nature reserve[1] in 1981. Other parts of the site were converted into an industrial estate, and some may be used for housing.

The Admiralty Materials Laboratory was later merged with other departments to become the Admiralty Research Establishment which later became part of Defence Research Agency (DRA) and DRA Holton Heath finally closed in the late 1990s. None of the site is now owned by the Ministry of Defence."

https://www.greenacre.info/RNCF/ 2025

Nature Reserve: 2002: http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=0&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=0&X=&NNR_ID=90

Address

Admiralty Park, Holton Heath, Poole BH16 6HX

+ D11 Admiralty Park

Holton Heath

Poole

BH16 6HX

+ Holton Heath Trading Park, Unit 2, Holton Road, Holton Heath, Poole BH16 6LG

For enquires contact "Birchmere Ltd, 38 Sandbanks Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 8BX Fax: 01202 744587

Please Telephone us with your enquiry on 01202 745442 or email us at info@admiraltypark.co.uk "

Email

Phone

Website

https://www.admiraltypark.co.uk/

Directions

" Admiralty Park is situated within a mature parkland setting extending to around 40 acres. The site itself is accessible from Station Road off the A351 Sandford Road. Poole Town Centre is conveniently within approximately a 15-minute drive via the A351, the A35 and then the A350. Wareham is situated approximately 3 miles to the Southwest.

Holton Heath Station is located within 50 metres of the southern boundary of the site providing direct rail links to Weymouth and London Waterloo.

Admiralty Park itself is within walking distance of pine forests, heathland and grassland, some of which are designated as SSSI’s and Conservation Areas."

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

"Holton Heath Station is located within 50 metres of the southern boundary of the site providing direct rail links to Weymouth and London Waterloo."

Amenities

To the west is Holton Heath flak tower

Wareham

BH20 7DF