Why Bridgend

Key Factors in selecting Bridgend for the Royal Ordnance Factory :

As described during the introduction, Bridgend was selected for its then distant location from the Bombers of the Luftwaffe. Political factors were also taken into account. Bridgend had a massive amount of men out of work, so work could be provided for some of them. It is interesting to note however, that many hundreds of workers were shipped in from other parts of the country, and skilled labour was also not present in the South Wales area. Exchanges of staff were also not unheard of, were women and girls working in and living in Bridgend were forced to move to other Ordnance plants in the country.

Below are some pictures and links to websites that I hope will illustrate the point of locating this plant in Bridgend.

1.	Out of range	The History of the German Heinkel Bomber	http://www.warbirdalley.com/he111.htm
2.	Supply of Coal	The Massive coal fields of South Wales	http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/
3.	Good Railways	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
4.	Good Roads	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
5.	Steel Industry	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
6.	Docks nearby	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
7.	Workforce	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
8.	Weather	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm
9.	Prisoner of War camp*	My Island Farm POW Site	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/islandfarm.htm
10.	Plenty of Land	From my collection of photographs	http://www.bracklaordnance.co.uk/pictures.htm

* Note: Converted after the construction of the Ordnance Factory, it is often said that the German Luftwaffe