Arthur

Some of the buildings are not in use - hence they may look derelict. Ashton-under-Lyne is merely the location of the company's registered office.

As some have said, this is Cardox International, and it makes CO2 cartridges for use mainly in quarrying. It isn't derelict, but still active. It started as a high explosives factory in 1924, presumably absorbing a few of the many staff of the Cotton Powder Company and Explosives Loading Company at their huge factories nearby - which closed at the end of the WW1 (some members may have seen a one-minute sequence filmed at the CPC site in the last in the series TITANIC - THE MISSION aired on Channel 4 recently - this was because the distress rockets the ship fired were made in Faversham). After a blow in (I think)1939 it converted to making its present product. The plant has had several different names and is still known locally by its original name Mexco (short for Mining Explosives Company) but lengthened to 'Mexico' to make it easier to say. Till a few years ago it belonged to a French firm but it was really of no interest to them and it's now unusual in being owned by its main customers. It has slimmed down over the years. It's unusual in still having a manumotive railway, though this is now little used. I hope this helps.