Chronology of Gunpowder
EXPLOSIVES & THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS
Compiled by Richard Thomas
| Date | Event | Superintendents | Wars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre 800's | China, fire mixtures for warlike purposes with no saltpetre in mixture | ||
| By 800's | Chinese aware of saltpetre - "hsiao", which appears in Taoist writings | ||
| 900's | Chinese employ "hsiao" in fire mixtures with other materials | ||
| 1044 | Wu Ching Tsung Yao written record of fire mixtures for war which, included with other materials a mixture of saltpetre, charcoal and sulphur - "huo yao" fire drug or proto gunpowder | ||
| 12th C | Arabs add saltpetre to incendiary mix | ||
| 1249 | Franciscan friar, Roger Bacon sets out the secret of gunpowder in his "Letter on the Secret Workings of Art and Nature, and on the Nullity of Magic" or "De Secretis" and "Opus tertium" giving an account, in code, of saltpetre and gunpowder | ||
| 1260's | First report in Britain of gunpowder used to propel a projectile. | ||
| Early 1300's | Gunpowder made in the Tower of London by hand methods using imported materials | ||
| 1327 | Cannon used by Edward III in his invasion of Scotland "Crackys of War" | ||
| 1346 | Bombard used at the Battle of Crecy by the English | ||
| 1543 | First gunpowder mill in England (?) erected by the Lee family at Rotherhithe. | ||
| 1548 | Gunpowder first used in civil engineering - dredging of the River Niemen | ||
| 1561 | First references to gunpowder at Waltham Abbey. Contract in Calendar of State Papers with correspondence from Marc Antonio Erizzo to John Thomworth (Tamworth), merchant of Waltham Abbey, who bought saltpetre and sulphur. Probably as a merchant, not a maker. | ||
| mid 1560's | Evelyn Family - gunpowder manufacture at Tolworth Surrey | ||
| 1570 | Thos Gill and Wm Byrd making gunpowder at Faversham, Kent | ||
| 1588 | Armada | ||
| 1590 | Map of Waltham Abbey (WASC 900/0) showing the Millhead Stream already in existence and the location of a Fulling Mill (later converted to an Oyle Mill) | ||
| 1605 | GP Plot | ||
| 1627 | Gunpowder first used for blasting in mining for ore, in Hungary | ||
| 1638 | Gunpowder first used in Britain for blasting in mining for ore at Ecton copper mine | ||
| 1640 | Production of Gunpowder at Sewardstone started, probably until 1715. Start of gunpowder industry in Lea Valley. | English Civil War 1642-46 | |
| 1643 | Samuel Hudson as tenant of the Oyle Mill (converted from the Fulling Mill) | ||
| 1652 | Saltpetre Act | 1st Dutch War 1652-4 | |
| 1662 | Thomas Fuller, curate of Waltham Abbey, claims in "History of the Worthies of Great Britain" that more gunpowder was "made by mills of late erected on the River Lea…..than in all England besides". (Possibly referring to the Sewardstone Mills.) Also that "the mills in my parish have blown up 5 times in 7 years but blessed be God, without loss of any man's life." | ||
| 1665 | First recorded deaths at WA.Thomas Guttridge and Edward Simons - killed by a powder mill. Also Ralph Hudson (brother of Samuel) signed ordnance contract to supply gp to the government. The Oyle Mill converted to a Gunpowder Mill. | 2nd Dutch War 1664-7 | |
| 1669 | "an Oyle Mill, lately converted into two powder mills …in the tenure of Samuel Hudson" | ||
| 1672 | Ralph Hudson secured new contract; new mills built at Hooks Marsh Bridge, near present Grand Magazine, which lasted until after 1676 | 3rd Dutch War 1672-4 | |
| 1673 | Hudson fined | ||
| 1676 | Ralph Hudson died, succeeded by son Peter who continued with contract until 1693, when he was accused of supplying bad powder. No further contracts awarded | ||
| War with France 1689-98 | |||
| 1702 | William Walton took over the mills. First contract awarded | War of the Spanish Succession 1702-13 | |
| 1711 | William Walton died. His widow Philippa took over with son John. | ||
| 1719 | Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1724 | Further Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1732 | Lawsuit against Philippa Walton, widow of William Walton | ||
| 1735 | John Farmer's plan of the mills. Powder mills worked by horses but corning and glazing was water powered. Mills owned by John Walton, son of Philippa. | ||
| 1739 | "Only his clothes were found on Galley Hill" - 1 man killed | War of Austrian Succession 1739-48 | |
| 1741 | Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1747 | Board of Ordnance first purchase proof mortars | ||
| 1748 | Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1755 | Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1757 | John Walton dies; brothers Thomas & Bouchier Walton inherit | 7 Years War 1756-63 | |
| 1759 | Government purchased the Faversham Mills | ||
| 1767 | John Smeaton engaged to design improved mills by Bouchier Walton | ||
| 1770 | Factory had "several curious gunpowder mills….worked by water" Making 100 x 1cwt barrels per week. Cutting of the Lee Navigation. | ||
| 1771 | Act regulating the storage and transportation of gunpowder | ||
| 1772 | Stamp mills outlawed. First Act regulating manufacture of gunpowder | ||
| 1779 | Capt Congreve inspected Royal Navy's gunpowder at Plymouth - reported that only 4 barrels were serviceable. | Sir William Congreve 1st Baronet | American War of Indepen- dence 1776-83 |
| 1781 | Explosion of the Corning & Glazing Engine "3 killed and much damage done in the town" | ||
| 1783 | First detailed plan of the works WASC 900/1 | ||
| 11.10.1787 | Government became involved with the Mills and started negotiations with Walton for the purchase. Mills producing about 600 barrels p.a. Mr James Wright (1) appointed Storekeeper | James Wright (1) | |
| 9.2.1789 | Production resumed after refurbishment costing £35,000 under control of Major William Congreve. | ||
| 12.2.1789 | First explosion at WARGM | ||
| 1789 | First set of "Gunpowder Rules" issued from Faversham | ||
| 1791 | Congreve said "not piece work" | ||
| 1793 | Sunday working introduced. | French Revo- lutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815 Anglo-American War 1813-15 | |
| 1793 | Steps taken to tighten security.23.2 No beer admitted. 27.2.Gravel found on shoe.- Instructions given to inspect footwear. Many references made to a days pay being stopped for safety transgressions 28.5 Flint found in seive.29.5 First references to traverses being set out. | ||
| 1794 | Cylinder charcoal introduced, brought in from Faversham | ||
| 1795 | Final settlement of the purchase. £10,000 | ||
| April 1795 | First Steam stove | ||
| 18.4.1801 | Explosion at new Corning House on Horse Mill Island - 9 men and 4 horses killed. (400 barrels removed by boat just before explosion) | ||
| 15.7.1801 | "No (electrical ?)excitation in rolling barrels on leather covered floors" | ||
| 1801 | Detailed plan of the works (WASC 900/2) | ||
| 1804 | Shortage of powder. 9 more horsemills built. Grand Magazine built for 1500 barrels. 20,000 barrels a year forecast. Ballincollig bought by the Crown. | ||
| 1805 | Cheshunt Cornmill bought and shut down to conserve water for the Gunpowder Mills. | ||
| 6.4.1805 | Mr H S Matthews appointed Storekeeper | H S Matthews | |
| 1806 | Report by John Rennie. (Archives at Inst of Civil Engineers) Also detailed plan MR 580 (WASC 900/3) | ||
| 1809 | Waltham Abbey Cornmill bought | ||
| 1809 | 20050 barrels | ||
| 1810 | 20688 barrels | ||
| 27.11.1811 | Explosion in No 4 Press House on Lower Island. Ensuing fire spread to Corning House and Reel House. - 8 men killed | ||
| 1811 | 21252 barrels | ||
| 1811/12 | Bramahs Hydraulic Presses introduced instead of screw presses | ||
| 1812 | 21033 barrels. General Congreve created Baronet. | ||
| 1813 | 22398 barrels. 250 men employed | ||
| 1814 | 10161 barrels. William Congreve succeeded his father. There were 5 barges, nine powder boats, two ballast barges and six punts. | Sir William Congreve 2nd Baronet | |
| 1815 | 17331 barrels. 1027 barrels regenerated. Battle of Waterloo | ||
| 1816 | 9551 barrels | ||
| 1817 | 2270 barrels | ||
| 20.1.1818 | Mr E Middleton appointed Storekeeper (died 17.6.1825) | E Middleton | |
| 1818 | 1127 barrels | ||
| 1819 | 988 barrels | ||
| 1821 | 1012 barrels | ||
| 1822 | 365 barrels. 307 barrels regenerated. 34 men employed | ||
| 1823 | 208 barrels. 1589 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1824 | 217 barrels. 1602 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1825 | 500 barrels. 2021 barrels regenerated | ||
| 29.6.1825 | Mr C Wilks appointed Storekeeper | C Wilks | |
| 1825 | Faversham Home Works sold (after leasing to private sector from 1816) | ||
| 1826 | 519 barrels. 3035 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1827 | 505½ barrels. 3396 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1829 | 985 barrels. 1244 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1830 | 2070 barrels. 1988 barrels regenerated | ||
| c1830 | Charcoal manufacture transferred to Waltham Abbey | ||
| 1831 | 3294 barrels | ||
| 15.10.1831 | Mr James Wright (2) appointed Deputy Storekeeper | James Wright (2) | |
| 1832 | 2733 barrels. | ||
| 13.10.1832 | Lt Col. C T Moody C.R.E. appointed in charge of the Royal Gunpowder Manufactory | Lt Col C T Moody | |
| 1833 | Ballincollig sold. WA now only government factory | ||
| 1833 | 1435 barrels. 1139 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1834 | 1077 barrels. 254 barrels regenerated | ||
| 1838 | Pelouze discovered that treating cotton with nitric acid produced a highly inflammable material | ||
| 2.7.1840 | Lt Col C T Moody C.R.E. appointed Inspector of Gunpowder | ||
| 13.4.1843 | Explosion at Corning House and Press House. Very violent - timber found one mile away at Enfield Lock - 7/10 men killed | ||
| 1845 | Order received for closure, never carried out. | ||
| 27.11.1845 | Capt Alexr. T Tulloh R.A. appointed Inspector of Gunpowder | Capt A T Tulloh | |
| 1846 | Guncotton (a dangerous rival to gunpowder),discovered by Schönbein following thoughts suggested by his discovery of ozone in 1844. A mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids' nitration on cotton. Bottger discovers guncotton, independently of Schonbein | ||
| 1846 | Ascanio Sobrero discovered Nitroglycerine involving the nitration of glycerine | ||
| 1847 | Maynard discovers nitrocellulose soluble in a mixture of ether and alcohol - collodion cotton | ||
| 1847 | John Hall & Sons(English Patentees) announced production of GC and supply in various packings. 4oz of GC =28oz of GP | ||
| 14.7.1847 | Hall's factory exploded killing 21 men | ||
| 1847/8 | 3 other explosions in France at Vincennes and Bouchet | ||
| 1.7.1852 | Major C C Dickson R.A. appointed Inspector of Gunpowder | Major C C Dickson | |
| 1852 | Austria (Von Lenk) purchases rights to Schonbein GC process | ||
| 1853 | Capable of producing 20,000 barrels pa | ||
| 2.1854 -3.1854 | Capt W Henderson appointed Acting Inspector of Gunpowder | Capt W Henderson | |
| 4.1854 | Col W H Askwith R.A. appointed Acting Inspector of Gunpowder | Col W H Askwith | Crimean War 1854-6 |
| 1854 | Faversham Marsh Works sold (after leasing to private sector from 1832) | ||
| 18.8.1855 | Col W H Askwith R.A. appointed Superintendent | ||
| 1856 | Water driven hydraulic presses introduced. Demand starts to grow. | ||
| 3.1856 | Lord Panmure Lea sailing barge built | ||
| 1857 | First steam driven gunpowder mills (Group A). Also raised tramway system, with trucks propelled by men or boys. | Indian Mutiny 1857-8 | |
| 29.10.1858 | Report on "Government gunpowder works at WA" published in The Engineer | ||
| 1860 | Explosives Act passed to include new types of explosives - proves inadequate | ||
| 27.5.1861 | Explosion at Group A Mills | American Civil war 1861-5 | |
| Feb 1862 | Details of improvement sent to British Government | ||
| July 1862 | Another explosion in Austria. GC production banned there | ||
| 1862 | Alfred Nobel added 10% NG to gunpowder and developed NG as a commercial blasting explosive | ||
| 1863 | Further experiments on guncotton under Mr (Sir) Frederick Abel, War Office Chemist. Made 1000-2000lbs of GC at WA over next 5 years in adapted saltpetre refinery buildings in Highbridge Street. | ||
| 1859 -1863 | Nobels discover that NG can be exploded by a mercury fulminate detonator. Immediate significant success as a civil blasting material - blasting oil. | ||
| 1864 | Lasting cloth adopted as fire prevention measure | ||
| 1864 | Explosion killed Emil Nobel and 4 others | ||
| 1864 | Earl de Grey and Ripon Lee sailing barge built | ||
| 1865 | Abel took out patent after solving difficulties of GC manufacture by pulping. GC became widely used in military mines and torpedoes and as a military & civil blasting agent. Its rate of combustion was too rapid for use as a military propellant and it was too sensitive for shell filling. manufacturing development continued at Highbridge Street. | ||
| 1866/1867 | Abel publishes "Researches on Guncotton" | ||
| 1867 | Nobel patented NG with a silica absorbent | ||
| 1867 | Alfred Nobel greatly increases safety of NG by absorbing in Kieselguhr, an inert porous silica, to produce material in conjunction with a fulminate detonator, named Dynamite | ||
| 27.2.1868 | Col C W Younghusband R.A. appointed Superintendent | Col. C W Younghusband | |
| 1868 | E. O. Brown discovers that Nobel method of dynamite detonation by mercury fulminate can be applied to compressed GC | ||
| 1869 | E. O. Brown discovers that wet GC can be exploded by a small primer of dry GC - made handling much safer since GC could now be stored and transported in safer wet state. | ||
| 1869 | 15 boats in use at WA. 21'-30' in length 5'11'' - 8'6'' in width. Also 16 open boats and 2 barges built for the Lee | ||
| 16.6.1870 | Explosion of Press House on Lower Island. Magazine next door containing 5000 lbs of GP emptied into river. - 5 men killed | ||
| 1870 | 32 pairs of mills 27,000 barrels. 150 men employed | ||
| 1871 | M Berthelot publishes first treatise on explosives | ||
| 1872 | Factory at WA to produce 250 tons of guncotton a year in old Saltpetre factory by Highbridge St using Abel process. | ||
| 2.10.1874 | 5 am Macclesfield Bridge, Regents Canal - 2 or 3 barrels of petroleum and 5 tons of GP on barge Tilbury ex WA for Codnor Park near Nottingham exploded. 3 died. This explosion was a contributory factor in bringing about the 1875 Explosives Act | ||
| 1.4.1875 | Lt Col Young R.A. appointed Superintendent (died 25.5.1875) | Young | |
| 26.5.1875 | Capt Morgan R.A. appointed Acting Superintendent | Morgan | |
| 29.6.1875 | Col R J Hay appointed Superintendent | Col R J Hay | |
| 1875 | Explosives Act. Introduced an effective and longlasting system of licensing and inspection. Col Sir V D Majendie appointed first permanent Inspector of Explosives | ||
| 1875 | Nobel gelatinised collodion cotton with NG as blasting gelatine - 25% more powerful than Dynamite | ||
| 2.8.1877 | Explosion of GC in press. Rope Mantlets introduced after this. | ||
| 1.7.1880 | Col C B Brackenbury R.A. appointed Superintendent | Col C.B Brackenbury | |
| 1881 | Electric lighting installed at WA | ||
| 1884 | Factory Rule book introduced | ||
| 1884 | P Vielle produced a rifle powder consisting of a mixture of GC and collodion cotton gelatinised by ether-alcohol called Poudre B (B=Blanche, white) as opposed to Poudre N (N=Noir, black) which was gunpowder. | ||
| 1.7.1885 | Maj Gen W H Noble appointed Superintendent (died 17.5.1892) | Maj Gen W H Noble | |
| 1885 | South Site (Quinton Hill) purchased | ||
| 1885 | Turpin in France demonstrated advantages of Picric Acid as shell filling. Adopted by French government under name of "Melinite" | ||
| 1888 | Nobel produced a military propellant "Ballistite" a mixture of collodion cotton (45%) and NG with camphor as a gelatiniser/moderator | ||
| 1888 | GC Factory on South Site opened | ||
| 1889 | Cordite patented by Abel and Dewar - 58% NG, 37% GC, 5% Vaseline using acetone as a solvent. | ||
| 22.8.1890 | Explosion in No 1 Breaking down house prior to pressing - 2 men killed | ||
| 1891 | Telephone system introduced | ||
| 1.1891 | Quinton Hill NG plant completed | ||
| 16.3.1891 | First charge of glycerine nitrated at Quinton Hill NG plant | ||
| 21.3.1891 | First incorporation of NG and GC at WA. Sent to Woolwich by barge for further processing . | ||
| 17.6.1891 | Full production of cordite commences at WA - 2 tons per week | ||
| 1.4.1892 | Maj F W Barker R.A. appointed Acting Superintendent during Major Noble's illness | Barker | |
| 1.10.1892 | Lt Col W McLintock R.A. appointed Superintendent (until 13.7.1894) | Lt Col W McLintock | |
| 13.12.1893 | Explosion at Cam House on Lower Island. - 9 men killed | ||
| 24.4.1894 | Beginning of real Safety Practice and Policy | ||
| 7.5.1894 | Explosion at Quinton Hill NG plant - 4 killed | ||
| 31.5.1894 | Maj F L Nathan R.A. appointed Acting Superintendent | Nathan | |
| 27.7.1894 | Col J B Ormsby appointed Superintendent | Col J B Ormsby | |
| 1895 | Picric Acid (Lyddite) adopted for British shell filling | ||
| 1895 | Picric powder introduced as booster for Lyddite | ||
| 1895 | Opening of Sandhurst Hospital | ||
| 1897 | NG plant built at Edmonsey on North Site | ||
| 1898 | Cordite Factory completed on North Site | ||
| 20.1.1900 | Bt Col F L Nathan appointed Superintendent | Bt Col F L Nathan | Boer War 1899-1902 |
| 1901 | Cordite MD introduced (GC 65% NG 30% Mineral jelly 5%) | ||
| 1901 | Nathan Thomson Rintoul displacement method of NG manufacture patented | ||
| 1903 | Booster tetryl (CE) entered British service use | ||
| 1903 | Quinton Hill No 1 Nitrating House plant replaced by Nathan Thomson Rintoul NG displacement plant | ||
| 15.12.1903 | Explosion of cordite incorporating M/c - 3 killed | ||
| 1904 | Quinton Hill Guncotton Factory extended. Nathan Thomson displacement system for GC nitration introduced | ||
| 1904 | Germany commences use of TNT (Tri Nitro Toluene) | ||
| 1904 | Edmonsey Nitration Plant replaced by Nathan Thomson Rintoul NG displacement plant | ||
| 8.2.1909 | Bt Col F L Nathan R.A. appointed Superintendent of SA and RG Factories | ||
| 6.8.1909 | Maj F T Fisher R.A. appointed Superintendent of SA and RG Factories | Maj F T Fisher | |
| 1914 | 26 tons pw cordite | First World War 1914-18 | |
| 3.1915 | 64 tons pw cordite | ||
| 1915 | Cordite RDB introduced. 200 tons pw (52% Collodion Cotton 42% NG 6 % Mineral Jelly) | ||
| 1916 | Quinton Hill enlarged. Building of Women's Hospital | ||
| 15.12.1917 | Lt Col P H Evans R.A. appointed Superintendent of RG Factory | Lt Col Evans | |
| 1925 | WA commenced production of RD 202 fuze powder, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate, charcoal and starch. | ||
| 1931 - 32 | Total Cordite production at WA 207 tons | ||
| 1933 | Cordite W introduced, including 6% carbamite in place of mineral jelly | ||
| 1933 | TNT first made at WA | ||
| 12.7.1934 | Dr R. C. Bowden appointed Superintendent - 1st civilian. Beginning of winding down. | Dr R C Bowden | |
| 1935 - 36 | Total Cordite production at WA 662 tons | ||
| 1938 | RDX Cyclo-trimethane-trinitramine invented. Small pilot plant at Quinton Hill producing 5 tons pw | ||
| late 1930's | Cordite RDN introduced including 55% picrite (nitroguanidine) | ||
| 1938 - 39 | Total Cordite production at WA 3970 tons | ||
| 1939 | Creation of Bishopton plant. Dr Bowden is transferred there 31.7.1939 | ||
| 1.8.1939 | Mr P G Knapman appointed Superintendent | Mr P G Knapman | 2nd World War 1939-45 |
| 18.1.1940 | Explosion at NG Mixing House handling frozen NG - 5 men killed | ||
| 20.4.1940 | Explosion of NG Mixing House - 5 men killed | ||
| 1940 | Enemy land mine destroyed the last of the water powered mills | ||
| 1940 | 120 tons NG a week. 75 tons cordite a week | ||
| 1943 | January - Cordite and RD 202 production stopped. August - GC production stopped. September - NG production stopped | ||
| 1.1.1944 | Mr R F Smith appointed Managing Chemist | Smith | |
| 28.7.1945 | RGPF formally closed | ||
| 31.7.1945 | Experimental station of Armament Research Dept. opened | ||
| 1.10.1946 | Chemical Research and Development Dept. | ||
| 1948 | Explosives Research and Development Establishment | ||
| 1977 | Propellants, Explosives and Rocket Motor Establishment | ||
| 1984 | Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment. North & South Sites split. North remained MoD. South went to Royal Ordnance | ||
| 1986 | Royal Ordnance bought by BAe Systems | ||
| 1989 | South Site closed | ||
| 7.1991 | North Site closed | ||
| 1.1992 | Remediation contract by S.W. Atkins on behalf of MoD (until 1996) | ||
| 1993 | English Heritage starts on site (until 1996) | ||
| 3.1997 | Trust takes over. | ||
| 5.4.2001 | Opening scheduled but cancelled due to Foot & Mouth crisis | ||
| 16.5.2001 | Site opened by Duke of Gloucester | ||
| 17.5.2001 | Site opens to the public | ||
| Abbreviations used: WA= Waltham Abbey. WASC = Waltham Abbey Special Collection. WARGM= Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills. GC= Guncotton. GP= Gunpowder. NG= Nitroglycerine. CE= Chemical Explosive. Barrels are 90lb. |
