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  • history
  1. Resources
  2. History

History

The Royal Gunpowder Mills has a long and fascinating history.  It has shaped military history as well as the development of civil industries such as mining and quarrying. It began as a family run business, but later became Crown property and a major local employer of workers in the Lea Valley. Over the centuries the factory grew, adopting to new technologies, and expanding its workforce to meet increasing demand for explosives and propellants.  

Discover why a one-legged stool was a crucial health and safety implement. Find out how the factory workforce doubled during WW1 as women came to work at the Royal Gunpowder Mills and learn about the site's final phase as a top-secret Explosives Research and Development Establishment. 

Chronology of Gunpowder

Chronology of Gunpowder

A timeline of gunpowder development and related activities at the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Read more

Published: 3rd August, 2019

Updated: 20th July, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Industrial Archaeology

Industrial Archaeology

The Royal Gunpowder Mills site is an important industrial monument containing one of the most extensive ranges of industrial archaeology in the country. Read more

Published: 28th June, 2019

Updated: 7th February, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

The Gunpowder & Explosives History Group

The Gunpowder & Explosives History Group

The Gunpowder and Explosives History Group was set up in October 2000. We had first met in 1985, drawn together by Alan Crocker, Glenys Crocker, and Phil Philo, and had decided to call ourselves the Gunpowder Mills Study Group. Read more

Published: 27th June, 2019

Updated: 20th July, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Why So Important?

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. Read more

Published: 6th June, 2019

Updated: 21st July, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

300 Years of History

300 Years of History

Gunpowder is a mixture of the natural products saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal. Its beginnings are obscure... Read more

Published: 6th June, 2019

Updated: 21st July, 2022

Author: Ian MacFarlane

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

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  • Supporting Young Creatives

    Supporting Young Creatives

    Come and shoot your student projects at our unique site.

  • Supporting Young Creatives

    Supporting Young Creatives

    Come and shoot your student projects at our unique site.

  • Children's Summer Workshops

  • Air-Powered Rockets (KS1/2/3)

    Air-Powered Rockets (KS1/2/3)

    Make and launch your own air-powered rocket, devise a fair tests, gather data and report findings.

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  • What's On This Autumn

    What's On This Autumn

    Mark your calendars for Saturday 14th October! We're opening our gates to the public for a fun day of exhibitions, talks, rides, and more! For more details on our Autumn programming and to buy tickets, click 'read more'

  • 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.

  • Visitor Map

  • Virtual Tours

    Virtual Tours

    Explore our site from the comfort of home.

  • Jobs

    Jobs

    General Manager at the Royal Gunpowder Mills

  • Tractor Trailer Guided Tours

    Tractor Trailer Guided Tours

    Take a 25 minute guided Tractor Trailer Guided Tour to the 'out of bounds' parts of the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

  • Professor Nitrate

    Professor Nitrate

    Experience Professor Nitrate's explosive outdoor science show.

  • 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.

  • The Armoury

    The Armoury

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

  • 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.

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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: 22nd July, 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: 27th March, 2023

Author: Ian MacFarlane

Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

Help Royal Gunpowder Mills!

The Royal Gunpowder Mills has now reopened following a two year closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please donate to help continue our Charity’s work. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 17th June, 2020

Updated: 15th May, 2023

Author:

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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

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