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  • heritage
  1. Resources
  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. 

Panoramas

Panoramas

Panoramas of the Royal Gunpowder Mills Read more

Published: 25th September, 2019

Updated: 31st March, 2021

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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

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: 14th January, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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

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

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

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: 15th March, 2022

Author: Jordan Wilks

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

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  • Our Trustees

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    Schools Programme

  • Volunteer

    Volunteer

    The Royal Gunpowder Mills is reliant on the time, skills, knowledge and hard work given by the team of volunteers. The team works to preserve and share the site and its unique history, for the visitors and for the future.

  • Our Teams

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  • We're back! Buy your ticket here...

    We're back! Buy your ticket here...

    We're open! Read on to find out more about our 2022 offer...

  • 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.

  • Virtual Tours

    Virtual Tours

    Explore our site from the comfort of home.

  • Visitor Map

  • Professor Nitrate

    Professor Nitrate

    Experience Professor Nitrate's explosive outdoor science show.

  • Jobs

    Jobs

    Come and work with us! We're recruiting a new maintenance and facilities co-ordinator

  • Our Purpose

    The purpose 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.

  • Gunpowder Cafe

    Gunpowder Cafe

    Tasty treats are being served at our Gunpowder Cafe!

  • The Armoury

    The Armoury

    Discover how firearms changed over the centuries by visiting our collection of over 300 historic firearms.

  • Tractor Trailer Guided Tours

    Tractor Trailer Guided Tours

    Take a 40 minute guided Tractor Trailer Guided Tour to the 'out of bounds' parts of the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

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Royal Gunpowder Mills Digital Archive

Royal Gunpowder Mills Digital Archive

After the closure of ERDE, the archive material inherited passed through a number of hands and storage locations before opening to the public as an online database. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2018

Updated: 10th March, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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: 14th January, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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

Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

Coronavirus Survival Appeal The Royal Gunpowder Mills is currently closed due to Covid 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. We very much look forward to welcoming visitors back on site this summer. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 17th June, 2020

Updated: 21st September, 2021

Author:

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile Read more

Published: 13th October, 2020

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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

Contact us

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

[email protected]
01992 707370