RARE information regarding Rochdale’s role in producing shells for the British Army in the First World War has come into the hands of Bygones.

In July 1915, with the Army suffering from a lack of armaments, the Ministry of Munitions had made an urgent appeal to ‘all who were in possession of any class of machinery adaptable for the production of munitions to place their plants at the disposal of the nation and help make up a great shortage of shells.‘

This led to the formation in Rochdale of a company called Shells (Rochdale Ltd) which began production in August of that year and continued right up to 31 March 1918.

It had been the idea of J N Tod, a director of Kelsall and Kemp Ltd in The Butts in consultation with E R Pearce, one of the firm’s engineers, who came up with a scheme to utilise the company’s existing plant in the mechanics shop to make 18lb shells.

However, after more talks with R W Buckley of Fielden and Co and J H Lord, a director of Kelsall’s with Mr Tod, a final decision was made to manufacture 6lb shells.

This necessitated a complete change of plan and, to carry out the new work, it was decided to equip an independent plant.

Several premises were inspected but finally it was agreed that a room belonging to Kelsall and Kemp’s at their works, Vale Mill in John Street, offered the best facilities capable of turning out 250 shells a week.

A company bearing the name of Shells (Rochdale) Ltd was formed and registered on 15 October 1915.

Shareholders agreed not to receive more than five per cent interest and no fees were to be paid to the directors.

There being no income, an overdraft at the bank had to be arranged and the money was promptly forthcoming thanks to Kelsall and Kemp – whose main mill was on a site now occupied by the council offices and the bus station – taking on the responsibility for it.

But the problem facing the directors was to getting the necessary plant to carry out the contract.

On account of the great pressure under which machine toolmakers were working at the time, it was impossible to buy new machines so the immediate district was scoured and all manner of old and second-hand machines showing any prospect of adaptability for the work were secured.

Some of the firms who helped out were J and G Walker of Larkfield Mill, Bagslate Manufacturing Company, Fielden and Co of Ainsworth Street and Sykes’ Victoria Works.

A motley collection of machines brought forth many comments, both jocular and otherwise, and there was much speculation about the possible ultimate success of the venture.

When the plant began to arrive, the directors realised that additions for special processes would be required and this difficulty was overcome by buying castings, engaging fitters and turners, and buying the extra tools necessary for the conversion of the castings into machine tools. Many superannuated men from the engineering trade, ranging in age up to 73, patriotically volunteered on account of the shortage of skilled labour.

From August to December 1915, the erection of the machines was pushed on to its fullest extent, the work proceeding practically all night and all day.

It must also be remembered that no-one who worked at the plant had ever made a shell so a lot of strain was put on the men.

But on 1 December 1915 the first lot of 115 shells were delivered, remarkably only four months after the project began with just a bare floor.

A fortnight later, the first consignment of shells was despatched to the National Filling Factory in Nottingham and from that time there were regular deliveries to whatever address the Ministry of Munitions instructed.

In June 1916, after having made 7,700 shells, and reaching an output of 500 a week, a slight alteration in design was demanded by the ministry, necessitating a shell head plant of much greater size.

To achieve the goal, Kelsall and Kemp gave permission for the use of another portion of their mill.

In February 1918, orders were received to close the plant, a procedure being adopted at similar plants across the country.

This was because of a shortage of steel, the large stock of shells in hand and, in the case of the Rochdale plant, its unsuitability for female labour, a point the authorities deemed essential.

The works finally closed on 31 March 1918 and, to mark the plant’s contribution to the war effort, a suitably inscribed shell was donated to Rochdale Museum.

In all, the plant had made around 200,000 shells.