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Keep an eye on our website for details of our new 2020 events! 



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  • heritage
  1. Our site
  2. Heritage

Heritage

The Royal Gunpowder Mills is designated a Scheduled Monument, the highest protection that can be given to a historic site.  Its landscape is shaped by 300 years of making explosives and propellants, sealed off from the outside world and featuring a large number of listed buildings, waterways, dry canals and an alder tree plantation which supplied the wood to make the charcoal, one of the three ingredients of gunpowder. The alder plantation is now part of a nature reserve, which is a site of special scientific interest and attracts a diverse range of animals and plants, which all form part of our national heritage.

Its architecture is unique and great care was taken in the design of its buildings showing pride in its importance as a world leader in innovation and quality.  It is an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.  A large part of the site is now derelict and has become a home to important wildlife. 

We have proposals for regenerating the site sensitively and conserving its buildings and wildlife for future generations. 

Interact with Heritage

On our Event Days you can opt to join our popular guided land train tour.  We also run talks and tours.  There are exhibitions. By browsing this website you can learn ahead more about the buildings, nature, railways and canals and other special features you will see on a visit, and begin to unlock the remarkable history of the site.

For more information on our heritage stay tuned as we will continue to update our pages with new information. 

Panoramas

Panoramas

Panoramas of the Royal Gunpowder Mills Read more

Published: 25th September, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
Highly Charged Words

Highly Charged Words

A light hearted glossary of phrases and sayings in common use today, which originated from gunpowder production and military use. Read more

Published: 3rd August, 2019

Updated: 8th August, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
RGM Historic Book Reprint Series

RGM Historic Book Reprint Series

The Historic Reprint Series are Facsimilie reprints of books having historical relevance to the development and manufacture of gunpowder at the Royal Gunpowder Mills. Read more

Published: 19th July, 2019

Updated: 30th August, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
  • Book Shop
RGM Book Series

RGM Book Series

Books about the history of the Royal Gunpowder Mills written by Archive Volunteers. Read more

Published: 19th July, 2019

Updated: 29th January, 2020

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
  • Book Shop
Paintings of the Mills

Paintings of the Mills

Step back in time to explore an explosive past through the vision of the artists who have painted the sights and scenes at the Royal Gunpowder Mills. Read more

Published: 17th July, 2019

Updated: 18th July, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
  • Paintings
Listed Buildings

Listed Buildings

The 20 Listed Buildings at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Read more

Published: 4th July, 2019

Updated: 6th July, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
Powder Boats

Powder Boats

Powder Boats were used to transport explosives materials around the network of narrow canals on the Royal Gunpowder Mills site. Read more

Published: 19th May, 2018

Updated: 29th January, 2020

Author: Jordan Wilks

Related topics:
  • Heritage
Canals & Waterways

Canals & Waterways

The Millhead Stream was used as a canal for the smooth and safe delivery of raw materials and collection of gunpowder. By 1800 the system had been further extended by the building of new mills on the banks of the old River Lea and the connection of these to the Millhead by canals. Read more

Published: 30th April, 2018

Updated: 29th January, 2020

Author: Jordan Wilks

Related topics:
  • Canals
  • Waterways
  • Heritage
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    Julie's Nature Column - Late summer 2020

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    Autumn 2020

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  • Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

    Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

    Coronavirus Survival Appeal The Royal Gunpowder Mills is closed until further notice and as a result, we have lost our essential visitor incomes and face a serious funding gap. Please donate to help continue our Charity’s work.

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  • Admission Prices

    Admission Prices

    Find out more about costs for each event.

  • How to get here

    How to get here

    Find out more about where we're located and how to get here by all types of transport.

  • When are we open ?

    When are we open ?

    We open for events and group tours. Our event opening times vary - Please check before you travel. You'll find our upcoming open days and events at What's On.

  • Mission

    Replace this with your content

  • Professor Nitrate's Mad Lab

    Professor Nitrate's Mad Lab

    There's so much fun to be had in Professor Nitrate's Mad Lab

  • Gunpowder Cafe

    Gunpowder Cafe

    Tasty treats are being served at our Gunpowder Cafe!

  • Jobs

    Jobs

  • Group visits

    Group visits

    We offer a fabulous range of activities for any type of group booking - so give us a call and arrange your group booking today!

  • Education Leaflet

    Take a look at our latest education leaflet.

  • Filming

    Atmospheric, derilict, apocalyptic, kooky and beautiful Film locations

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Canals Waterways
Julie's Nature Column - Spring 2020

Julie's Nature Column - Spring 2020

Read more

Published: 18th March, 2019

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Julie Matthews

RGM Historic Book Reprint Series

RGM Historic Book Reprint Series

The Historic Reprint Series are Facsimilie reprints of books having historical relevance to the development and manufacture of gunpowder at the Royal Gunpowder Mills. Read more

Published: 19th July, 2019

Updated: 30th August, 2019

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
  • Book Shop
RGM Book Series

RGM Book Series

Books about the history of the Royal Gunpowder Mills written by Archive Volunteers. Read more

Published: 19th July, 2019

Updated: 29th January, 2020

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Heritage
  • Book Shop
Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

Coronavirus Survival Appeal The Royal Gunpowder Mills is closed until further notice and as a result, we have lost our essential visitor incomes and face a serious funding gap. Please donate to help continue our Charity’s work. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 17th June, 2020

Updated: 9th August, 2020

Author:

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile Read more

Published: 13th October, 2020

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Related topics:
  • Donate

Contact us

Royal Gunpowder Mills,
Beaulieu Drive,
Waltham Abbey,
Essex, EN9 1JY
United Kingdom

[email protected]
01992 707370

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Royal Gunpowder Mills is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 1062968).