Mission

The mission of the charity is to preserve, manage, research, conserve and display for the benefit of the general public and of the nation at large the historical and archaeological heritage of the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey in the form of ancient monuments, listed buildings and the natural aspect features and bird, animal, tree and plant life.

It is a huge mission, carried out by a small number of staff supported by a large number of dedicated volunteers.

In support of our mission we have education programmes, visitor programmes, volunteering programmes and liaise closely with Historic England, Natural England and our other key stakeholders.

If you would like to know more about the work of charity that is not featured on this website, please contact Stella Morris on 01992 707370 [email protected]

Latest

Julie's Nature Column - Summer 2019
Historical Walk and Audio Tour

Discover the science and history surrounding the manufacture of gunpowder and other explosives by taking our 23 point Online Audio Tour which can be listened to by clicking the speaker icons below. When you visit our site in person, you may also take our Self Guided Audio Tour by scanning the QR Codes on each Information Panel with your Mobile phone.
Archive

After the closure of ERDE, the archive material inherited passed through a number of hands and storage locations, particularly in the latter period before opening to the public, when outside staff from the firm designing the exhibition had to have free access. Consequently by 2004 the Archive had become rather disorganised.
Why So Important?

Internationally, the Royal Gunpowder Mills is amongst a handful of places associated with the manufacture of explosives dating back many centuries which have subsequently been preserved and opened to the public.