Content

The Story of 'The Angels'

Where does all this information come from

Why were they called 'The Aycliffe Angels'?

What did the Factory manufacture?

Plans and Photos of the Factory (1940s)

TIMELINE of the Factory & Workers

Winston Churchill visits the Aycliffe Factory (1942)

Mrs Dillon - Senior ROF worker who received a medal

Honour at last, thanks to The Northern Echo

The Aycliffe Angels 2000-2020

Extremely dangerous work...

Workers' Houses and Accommodation

350 Houses on Secret Estate in Darlington

Photo Gallery 1 - (Admin Staff)

Photo Gallery 2 - (Production Staff)

Photo Gallery 3 - (Individual Angels)

Photo Gallery 4 - (ROF site in 1945)

Photo Gallery 5 - (ROF Fire Brigade)

Documents and Certificates etc...

What's left of Aycliffe ROF?

Surviving ROF buildings...

Links for History of The Aycliffe Angels
  

Extremely Dangerous work....

There are very few official records of accidents and deaths at Aycliffe ROF during WWII, but we have been able to track down a few reports of explosions from local newspaper reports.

The news clipping to the left appeared in The Northern Echo on 23rd February 1942 and describes an accident in which four women were killed.

Because of Wartime reporting restrictions, the details of the exact location of the factory are not mentioned. However, from other accounts provided by former workers, we know this refers to the Aycliffe factory.

  

Mrs Phoebe Morland - Killed

Phoebe Morland's Husband was in the Navy and she left two children.

The women who were killed in the incident on the night shift of 20th-21st February 1942 were:-

Edna Thompson, aged 30, single
Irene Irvin, aged 24, married
Alice Dixon, aged 22, married
Phoebe Morland, aged 24, married

  

Eight killed days before VE Day....

Eight workers were killed at Aycliffe in an explosion on 2nd May 1945

The news clipping to the right appeared in The Northern Echo on 3rd May 1945 and details an accident in which eight ROF workers were killed.

Once again, because of Wartime reporting restrictions, the details of the exact location of the factory are not mentioned. However, from other accounts provided by former workers, we know this also refers to the Aycliffe factory.

Those killed:-

Isabella Bailey, married
Elsie Barrett, widow
James Bunton, married
William Clark Hobson, married
William Mitchell, single
Christopher Seagrave,married
Edmund Smith, married
Alice Wilson, single

May they all rest in peace, their lives cut short just days before the end of the war in Europe. They are all heroes and should be remembered as such for many years to come.

  

Many more severe accidents...

Apart from the accidents detailed above, we are aware of other people who were killed and many more who were mamed and injured at Aycliffe ROF.
'Minor' accidents didn't appear in the newspapers and there were more fatalities than appear to have been reported.

Miss Rosie Robb (pictured left) was killed in an explosion at Aycliffe on Group 1 in 1944.  Details are sketchy and we have not been able to find any reports.