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Royal Gunpowder Mills

• Royal Gunpowder Mills
• Beaulieu Drive
• Waltham Abbey
• Essex.
• Postcode: EN9 1JY
• Tel: 01992 707370
• Website: royalgunpowdermills.com

Guncotton workers at the Royal Gun Powder Mills
Photo Copyright © Royal Gunpowder Mills.

Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey

The Royal Gunpowder Mills opened as an independent heritage visitor attraction in May 2001 - the first time the site had been opened to the public in its 300 year ‘secret’ history. Today the mix of fascinating history, exciting science, beautiful surroundings and interesting events, produce magical days out for all the family. Because of its historic importance, the Royal Gunpowder Mills also acts as an anchor point for the East of England section of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

Background

Established in the 17th century and acquired by the Crown in 1787, the Royal Gunpowder Mills has a very important place in both the history of Great Britain and its home town of Waltham Abbey. It has been described as the most important site for the history of explosives in Europe’ for its contribution to

• the development of the production of high quality gunpowder after 1787 with its scientific methods making British gunpowder the envy of the world;
• the quantity of gunpowder produced and supplied to British forces including the Napoleonic Wars;
• the development of Congreve’s rockets in 1804;
• the production of the propellant cordite, used in large quantities in the First World War – when the Waltham Abbey workforce employed about 5,000 people (with over half being women);
• its involvement in the development of the explosive RDX, which was later used for the bouncing bomb in the ‘Dambusters’ raid of the Second World War and;
• in the more recent period after the Second World War, when it became a series of Ministry of Defence research and development establishments at the cutting edge of non-nuclear explosives technology, until the site closure in 1991.

From the 400 acres, on two sites north and south of the town, about 170 acres of the north site was secured for the development of the visitor attraction. With support from the Ministry of Defence and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Company Ltd (registered charity no. 1062968) took over the site and opened it to visitors, after a major restoration and interpretation project.

RGM Incorporating Mill
Photo Copyright © Royal Gunpowder Mills.

The aim of the Trust is to preserve and manage the site for the benefit of the public in terms of its historical, archaeological heritage and the natural environment with a view to improving the education and knowledge of the public in related aspects.

Over two thirds of the site is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and about half is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its alder woodland and heronry. Twenty buildings are listed, including one Grade 1 and seven Grade 2s*. Six of these, constructed between 1861 and 1889, form the largest and most impressive complex of stream powered gunpowder mills in Britain.

Heritage visitor attraction

Suitable for all ages, the site offers opportunities for great days out for the public, groups and schools as well as corporate hire, to enjoy and learn about this fascinating place, including

• Extensive events programme - as well as special weekends, such as VE Day Celebrations, Rocket & Space event and Victorian Christmas (with many child and family focused activities) there are many living history and re-enactment events throughout the year.
• Award winning film and interactive exhibition – highlighting the impact that the creation of gunpowder has had on the world, both for military and commercial use, plus the fascinating and unique 300 year history of the Royal Gunpowder Mills (one of Britain’s best kept secrets!)
  With sound and lighting effects, the film and the exhibition with computer interactive displays and stories of the people who worked at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, is a great introduction to a site.
• ‘The Gunpowder Plot – Parliament and Treason 1605’ exhibition – thanks to the Parliamentary Archives, NEW for 2008, this exhibition was relocated to Waltham Abbey and tells the real story of the events that led up to the infamous plot of 5th November from actual archive materials.
• ‘Farewell to Arms’ exhibition – an interesting and informative small arms and military memorabilia display with a ‘hands on’ experience, illustrating periods from the English Civil War to the current day.
• Rocket exhibition –learn more about the development of rocket motors that helped propel probably the world’s largest space programme (the Skylark) and you may even meet a real live rocket scientist!
• 1940’s exhibition – a chance for grandparents to reminisce and children to discover what life was like in the 1940’s. Peek into a kitchen and back yard with its Anderson shelter and experience the sites and sounds of being in an air raid shelter. The general store, post office and toy shop all display items of the period.
• Transport exhibition – see a powder barge that one carried gunpowder on the extensive 5 mile canal network and railway engines reminiscent of the later transport systems once on site. Includes restored firefighting equipment.
• Historic buildings – take a look at some of the buildings that once made gunpowder from the Saltpetre house to the Incorporating Mill and the Press House.
• Nature walk – enjoy a walk through the woodland and look out for kingfishers, herons and woodpeckers and other wildlife.
• Land train tours – a 40 minute guided tractor trailer ride (small additional charge applies) and you may even catch a glimpse of the resident fallow deer.