This season visitors to Ruthin Gaol can learn more about a fascinating chapter of the attraction’s history, thanks to the newly updated Munitions Cell.
The cell within the iconic Pentonville-style former prison, is dedicated to telling the historic building’s wartime stories.
During World War II, Ruthin Gaol (having ceased operations as a prison in 1916) was repurposed as a munitions factory, becoming what the press of the time would describe as “Britain’s Strangest War Factory.”
The Ministry of Defence leased the site to the Liverpool-based Lang Pen Company in 1942, which moved its heavy machinery away from the regular air raids experienced by the city, to manufacture its bullet casings and weapons parts in the relatively safer market town of North Wales.
With the machinery came female machinists from Liverpool who trained and worked alongside local women from Ruthin. Together, they played a vital role in the war effort and became known collectively as the Munitionettes.
The updated Munitions Cell exhibit brings their wartime stories to life with historical artifacts, photographs depicting the Gaol during its time as a manufacturing hub, and compelling personal accounts.
Among the items on display are original ration books, wartime gas masks, a wages card from the Lang Pen Company, and a leather wallet presented to returning servicemen from Ruthin.
Visitors can also view diagrams of munitions production, and memorabilia of the factory’s women’s football team which played exhibition matches against the Land Girls to raise funds for the Royal Air Force.
Philippa Jones, Heritage Site Operations and Development Manager for Ruthin Gaol, said:
“The updated Munitions cell offers a fresh retelling of the wartime role played by Ruthin Gaol and the people who worked here, ensuring that their stories, an important part of local history, continue to be shared with future generations.”
Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage added:
“The gaol is a site that is of significant historic value and the opening of the new Munition cell offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the gaol in a different historic period.
“There are plenty of exciting activities and events that will be held at the Goal and our other heritage sites across the County in the next few months, and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of what’s on offer”.
The Munitions Cell features as part of the regular visitor experience at Ruthin Gaol, open Monday – Sunday (Closed Tuesdays), 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm) until September 30th. Plan your visit at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/heritage and discover this unique piece of history.