Cardiff's Royal Ordnance Factory No.17 opened in 1940 for the construction of field guns and other weaponry during World War 2. Over 20,000 people worked at the factory. In 1960, it became part of the Atomic Weapons Establishment and as AWE Cardiff, switched production to the manufacture of components for the nuclear weapons programme. All production ceased at the plant in February 1997. The site has since been demolished and cleared.
The historical journal 'Archive', nos. 33 & 34, has a two-part article on Llanishen ROF.
B.A.Malaws, RCAHMW, 24 March 2003.