Elephant bones
Many Stanwell residents can remember the local factory where the ‘recycling’ of animal parts was done on an industrial scale. Bones and fats were extracted from the remains as they where key ingredients used in the production of soaps and glue. Many people have told tales of the strange smell emanating from the boiling tanks when they were fired up. The aroma was so pungent that it became known as ‘The stink factory’ The story goes that when an elderly elephant passed away at whipsnade zoo,the body was transported to stanwell to be processed,this involved sawing through huge bone and cartilage,to break the carcass down so it would fit the huge boiling tanks. It would seem the job was too big, workers elected to bury the elephant in a nearby field. some say it was done at night so as the bosses didnt find out. some say that elephants are not the only big animals buried in stanwell…
