Report - Copenacre Quarry & RNSD - Corsham - March 2016

[Speed]

When Copenacre was originally explored back in 2011 i narrowly missed out on getting down there for a look myself. I think back then, with the epic explores of Spring still fresh in my mind it seemed like a little bit of a let down really. The live quarry next door were using the navy stores area to dump deads and and some nearby tunnels were used as a vehicle store and maintenance shop. It seemed more like it would be an explore of a live quarry than a relic of the cold war!

Fast forward to 2016 and with the topside buildings starting to be demolished i had an invite to go down again which this time i took up! It was a great night and i had the chance to have a good mooch round both the remains of the MOD area and the newly abandoned quarry workshops too (although my photos are mainly of the former)

Copenacre Quarry history
In 1939 the Royal Navy has temporary ammunitions stores at near-by Pickwick and Brocklease Quarry and electrical stores at Bethel Quarry in Bradford-on-Avon. With an urgent need for more secure underground storage the Government acquired Copenacre in 1940 for use as a Royal Naval Store Depot.

Two new lifts were installed and a new shaft was sunk to provide access to the centre of the quarry. All the shaft were heavily reinforced with large concert buildings. Copenacre was put in to use in 1942, mainly providing support for the Navy's electronic equipment with storage and test facilities.

In 1954 with changes in global warfare Copenacre was expanded as the site protected by 100 feet of rock offered much better protection from an atom bomb than anything on the surface, so the site was expanded.

By 1969 Copenacre was a self contained unit dealing with storage and testing for the whole range of electronic kit for the navy. By this time the Copenacre organisation also had storage space in Spring Quarry and Monks Park Quarry.

It was announced in 1972 that Copenacre was to be closed, however this closed a bit of a stir as at the time the Royal Navy depot was the largest employer in North Wiltshire employing 1700 staff. The depot was saved.

Copenacre Quarry finally closed in 30th September 1995 and the site was sold off in 1997. All the entrance to the quarry are now sealed and can be seen along side the A4

Sinks in the male washroom

Lift shaft

Prefab offices

Main ventilation fan

A cold store next to the fan chamber

'Deads' had been dumped in many areas.

The bottom of the slope shaft showing the 'transporter' car and ceiling reinforcement.

Deeper into the quarry shelves had been pushed aside for quarry machines to pass

Probably the best sign i discovered, sadly damaged

Other areas had very intact shelves. Pretty claustrophobic tho!

More signage​

Overall it was actually a pretty cool place to mooch around, nothing compared to Spring but one day all of these cold war relics around Corsham will be gone so good to see it none the less. Should really have taken a few more photos considering the time i was down there!​

 

[tumbles]

Lovely pictures. I am regretting not taking my camera down.

Bonkers night mind.

 

[BrainL]

Nice report as always mate Out of interest what is a dead?

 

[Speed]

Basically the waste stone

 

[Seffy]

Brings back some good memories, even though I don't remember seeing a lot of it

Well shot that man.

 

[Lenston]

Nice images there