Blakeshall Common School. Constructed around 1855 again by the landowner William Hancocks. It was to cater for the children of the families of the small village that used to occupy the site before the factory was built. Children from the neighbouring Rock Houses also used to attend. From the 1890's it was used as a mission chapel, eventually falling into disuse by the 1920's. It was later used by the Home Guard during the war. From Albert's description of the famous preacher I suspect he was referring to Richard Baxter, who although he may have been associated with the chapel, would have never visited as he died around 1691. This building was sadly demolished around 1982.

Click here for more about Richard Baxter

Click here for more photos of the school/chapel

 The hall became our Civil Defence H.Q. some of our equipment was stored in the "old privies" outside. On occasions I slept in an upstairs room. A cold bleak room with a tiny fireplace and blacked out windows, reached via a narrow stairway. They lived tough in those days. If, as reputed, this famous Preacher or his disciples lived and taught there, they must have been hardy sort of chaps.

 About 100yds further on, between ever steepening banks of sandstone, we came to a huge double door, big enough to drive a double decker bus through, beyond which we entered through a small door to a tunnel-like chamber about 40yds long, with another huge pair of doors at the other end. It acted like an air-lock housing also, this was later as recruitment of labour was stepped up, a Timekeepers office, complete with clocking in stations. All the tunnels were the same width as the outside roadway (about 25ft). Main ones maybe a bit wider. All tunnels had kerbstones at the side, a short one foot ledge and the wall rose straight up for about l5ft then arched over, Hewn out of solid sandstone they were sprayed to harden the crust, and painted a creamy-buff finish. The top took the huge air-ducts and ventilation that brought warm air in and foul air out. The method of construction of the tunnels made them self-supporting.

 Through the second doorway to the factory proper, the tunnels, empty at the time, streched into the distance, a quarter of a mile. This was only the main one, five in all. 1, 2 and 3 ran parallel about 50yds apart. 4 and 5 were at right angles to entrances the other side of the hill, The latter housed the offices, The R.A.F. also had some other entrances. Tunnels 1, 2 and 3 were linked by interjoining bays every few yards , about 36 of them. My bay, the Polishing Shop was between 1 and 2 right at the far end. No. 35. Florescent lighting was installed throughout, excepting for spot lights on lathes, None of us had seen it before. The flickering when switched on was disconcerting at first. We came to appreciate its absence of glare and shadow. The vastness of the place took ones breath away. Seven miles of tunnels.

 Naturally each wanted to see his Departnent. It came as a shock to see nearly every bay barren and empty. At least in the Polishing Shop the lathes and stands were in position. Obviously it would be some time before any production would be going. The next few weeks would be a drag. These transfers were carefully programmed, all we could do was to be patient.

 At one o'clock sharp we met for dinner. Cementation, that's the name of one of the big contractors ( a world wide construction firm) had cleaned out one of their Canteen huts, we used it for some weeks, Dinner was laid out as if it were a banquet. V.I.P. treatment that boosted our ego no end.

 Our guides never let us out of sight until it was time to get the coach back to No. 1. and the bus home. Our transfer to Drakelow was complete and excepting for one occasion, never set foot in No. 1 until after the War. After that first day the coach picked us up en-route every morning for a few weeks until our Hostels were ready.