The Chilwell Explosion, 1st July 1918

The Chilwell Explosion. On 1st July 1918 an explosion destroyed part of the Chilwell Shell Filling Factory killing 139 workers. Many of the victims are buried in these graves.

The Chilwell Explosion on 1st July 1918 was one of the deadliest industrial accidents of World War I, caused by the detonation of cordite at the Chilwell Shell Filling Factory in Nottinghamshire. The disaster killed 139 workers, predominantly women, and highlighted the dangers faced by munitions workers contributing to the war effort.