Ardeer Power Station - Scotland
The morning began with us navigating a bramble-filled beach to avoid security patrolling the roads around the site. The remnants of the former power station still stood imposingly over the derelict area and the place seemed quiet as we approached and started scouting for entry points.
Most appeared sealed, with surrounding debris and sand piled against the ground floor windows, creating large mounds around the structure. After several failed attempts, just as we were about to give up, someone in the group started digging away some debris and noticed a partially covered window. It was mostly sand blocking it, and within a few minutes we had created a hole large enough to crawl through.
Inside, the place felt larger and had a classic industrial atmosphere. We headed up, admiring the maze of pipework and valves as we moved towards the roof. We cautiously peered around a corner and noticed a pickup truck parked outside the main gate with a man eyeing up the site. Faint sounds in the distance suggested he was aware of our presence and not too pleased.
Having put in the effort to get in, we weren't in a rush to leave and continued exploring while staying out of his line of sight. About 15 minutes passed, and we could see him driving around in the distance, stopping occasionally to look from different angles. When we were ready to leave, we found an easier exit that didn't involve crawling through sand.
As we peeked our heads out, we noticed the security truck on-site along with a few police vehicles. Instead of waiting them out, we decided to speak to them since we hadn't done anything wrong and were finished anyway. They were all pretty sound and even gave us some advice on the nearby derelict sea life centre, explaining that security can get a bit excitable with trespassers due to the proximity of the neighboring explosives site. A short, bumpy ride in the back of the van, and we were out, a little wiser about the importance of stealth when dealing with bomb manufacturers.
History
“Residing along Scotland's Ayrshire coast lies the former Ardeer power station. Founded in 1871 as the British Dynamite Factory, Ardeer rapidly expanded, becoming the world's largest explosives producer. The choice of this remote location was driven by safety concerns, crucial for the manufacture of his revolutionary invention. The factory's output was vital for fueling the burgeoning mining industry, enabling the construction of railways, canals, and other infrastructure projects that shaped the modern world. Joining ICI in 1926 marked a new era, bringing increased resources and diversification. Ardeer became a key research hub, pioneering not only high explosives like gelignite and cordite, but also contributing to the development of various non-explosive products and establishing new company divisions. During both World Wars, Ardeer played a crucial role, supplying explosives for the war effort and operating around the clock. The 1950s saw the construction of the 16MW Ardeer Power Station, a symbol of its industrial peak, powering a vast 2000-acre complex that employed nearly 13,000 at its height. However, the late 20th century brought decline, with the shrinking British coal industry and increasing global competition leading to the factory's eventual closure in the 1990s”.
