Barnbow Royal Ordnance Factory was built 1939-40 to make armaments for the Second World War. Employing at its peak 3000 workers including 2000 women, it produced around 9000 guns - 6 and 25 pounders, 3.7 inch anti-aircraft guns, 40mm Bofors and 17 pounders for Sherman tanks. Between 1945 and closure in 1999, over 4000 Centurion, Chieftain and Challenger tanks were built here.