Factory that Became a Village

When Jim Lewis met the directors of the RSA Trust, thecharity responsible for the concept and the running of Enfield Island Village,in January 2015, it was to discuss the commissioning of a book that would tellthe story of the former government controlled Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF)after privatisation and closure in 1987. However, during discussions it soonbecame clear, with the impending two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of theEnfield Lock armoury, that a unique opportunity existed to link the story ofthe RSAF site with the founding of the RSA Trust. And as one Trust director putit, this is the classic story of "from swords into ploughshares". Surprising asit may seem, the story of the birth of the Enfield Lock armoury in 1816 and themethods of manufacture that then existed within the British small arms industryhas never been completely told. At the time of writing thisbook the author wanted, in the two-hundredth anniversary year of the foundingof the RSAF, to commemorate the contribution made to our armed forces by theformer workforce which, by their skills and dedication, helped keep Britainsafe during times of world instability. Also I wanted to acknowledge thecontribution made to our community by the four founding fathers of the RSATrust that has benefited so many worthwhile good causes. In a world full ofincreasingly depressing news it is uplifting to have the opportunity to writeabout a group of four local businessmen who had the vision, courage andtenacity to take on the mammoth task of rescuing a Grade II listed buildingthat no sane entrepreneur would have contemplated taking on and turn it into avibrant sustainable business for the benefit of the local community. The modelcreated pays a service charge into a limited liability company, RSA IV, whichin turn transfers the surplus to the not-for-profit RSA Trust which is thenable to fund many community good causes.