See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Building 1: Incorporating or composition mill built in the 19th century at Powder Mills gunpowder factory

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1016635: Gunpowder factory at Powder Mills, a partially enclosed stone hut circle settlement and round cairn

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/51/1
• Old SAM Ref: 28718

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• INCORPORATING MILL (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1954, SX67NW (Cartographic). SDV350080.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1979, SX67NW99 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV350197.

Pye, A. R. + Robinson, R., 1990, An Archaeological Survey of the Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills Farm, Postbridge, Devon, 19-20, Figures 1,4-5, Plates 3-4 (Report - Survey). SDV254157.

Building 1: Incorporating mill at powdermills gunpowder factory. Consists of a pair of gable-ended structures flanking a large central wheelpit. Both of massive granite blocks. Side walls circa 2 metres thick at base; gable walls circa 1 metre thick; all are only circa 0.80 metres thick at first-floor level. Tar dribbles indicate original roofing was of tarred tarpaulin or wood. Building terraced slightly into the hillside. Consists of two units: (A) to the south-east and (B) to the north-west. At the apex of each gable end of unit (A) is a large square opening. These oppose each other and those in unit (B). Doorway from the south-east at ground floor level. Matching opening on opposite wall presumably housed waterwheel axle. At the north end is a raised platform of granite blocks bearing impressions of machinery settings. Two openings in the east and west walls may have held beams anchoring machinery in place. Broad openings through the east and west walls at the first floor. Unit (B) is almost a mirror image of unit (A). The wheelpit is aligned north-east to south-west and runs the whole width of the units. Wheel axle appears to have projected into their ground floors. Powered by a launder to the north-east which flowed out through a culvert to the south-west. This is roofed for 3.5 - 4 metres, then becomes an open channel which runs downhill to feed the reservoir belonging to 'Building 2'.

Pye, A., 1996, The Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills, 221 (Article in Serial). SDV254160.

Gerrard, S., 1998, 149175 (Report - non-specific). SDV257881.

Incorporating or composition mill forming part of the gunpowder factory at Powder Mills.

National Monuments Record, 1999, 442786 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV248155.

A gunpowder factory established in 1844 by George Frean, and remained in use until 1897, when it closed as a result of increasing competition from dynamite and a slump in local mining activity. The production of gunpowder involved combining a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal and the buildings in which the different stages of the process were carried out survive at Powder Mills. Amongst the buildings identified at Powder Mills are: grinding mills; blending mills; incorporating mills; a range of buildings where the gunpowder was broken, pressed, corned, dried, dusted and glazed; and finally charge magazines.

Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.

Building shown on modern mapping.

English Heritage, 2012, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV348729.

Ruins of gunpowder mill. Established in 1844 by a Plymouth alderman George Frean. Originally quite an extensive complex of buildings running up the valley with several water wheels turned by water from a leat and with two chimneys. All the buildings are now in varying degrees of ruin although one chimney survives and three main groups are recognisable of granite rubble with granite lintels, all roofless. The chimney is well constructed with stringcourse near the top and plinth. It has a covered channel running downhill from it towards the largest ruinous building. The invention of dynamite in 1867 rapidly superceded gunpowder. and the mills, which employed about 100 men closed in the 1890s.

English Heritage, 9/10/1981, Gunpowder factory at Powder Mills (Schedule Document). SDV350194.

Ruins of gunpowder mill. Established in 1844 by a Plymouth alderman George Frean. Originally quite an extensive complex of buildings running up the valley with several water wheels turned by water from a leat and with 2 chimneys. All the buildings are now in varying degrees of ruin although one chimney survives and 3 main groups are recognisable of granite rubble with granite lintels, all roofless. The chimney is well constructed with stringcourse near the top and plinth. It has a covered channel running downhill from it towards the largest ruinous building. The invention of dynamite in 1867 rapidly superceded gunpowder. And the mills, which employed about 100 men closed in the 1890s.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6029 - An Archaeological Survey of the Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills Farm

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.