This model is located in the Transport and Fire Exhibition Building.
One of the remarkable features of the RGPF was the presence of two hospitals inside the factory. The first was the brick built “Sandhurst Hospital” situated near to the Refinery Gate entrance, now Beaulieu Drive. This was built in 1894 because 3 years earlier there had been an explosion in the factory and casualties had to be taken to Tottenham, a distance of 10 miles. The hospital faced the canal since most of the transport within the factory was by boat. A cast brick plaque set in a section of the hospital wall was recovered when the building was demolished; this is on display at the entrance to the site.
The model is of the second hospital, a women’s annex built in 1916 across the road from the Sandhurst, for the 3000 women working in the factory during the Great War. This building was Y-shaped and constructed of timber apart from the 5 chimneys. Below a north facing skylight was an operating room; there was also an x-ray room, wards with beds for 8 patients and accommodation for nurses. The hospital model was built mainly of 3mm MDF and polystyrene sheet to the same scale as the model railway, 6mm/foot.
There were no fatal accidents in RGPF in WW1 and it is likely that many places such as coal mines were more dangerous to work in than the explosives factories. After these hospitals were closed there were still medical facilities on site including full time nursing staff and an ambulance. Later both of the hospital buildings were converted into flats for employees and were demolished when that part of the site was cleared following the closure of the factory in 1991.
Tony Barratt
The Model of the Sandhurst Women’s Hospital was constructed by Tony Barratt based on the original 1916 plans.
Tony also constructed our Model Railway Display.
Tony worked on the site from 1959 -1979.
The plans and original photos are a part of the holdings in the Royal Gunpowder Mills Historical Archives.
Read more about our Archives.
