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HER Number:MDV43182
Name:Building 8: Charge Magazine at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory

Summary

Building 8: Charge magazine built in the 19th century at Powder Mills gunpowder factory

Location

Grid Reference:SX 627 773
Map Sheet:SX67NW
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishDartmoor Forest
DistrictWest Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishLYDFORD

Protected Status

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NW/51/8
  • Old SAM Ref: 28718

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • POWDER MAGAZINE (XVIII to XIX - 1800 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Small square building shown on 19th century map.


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 (Report - Survey). SDV254157.

Building 8: ?charge magazine at Powder Mills gunpowder factory. Small rectangular building immediately northwest of 'Building 9' and to the west of the chimney of ?gloom/steam stove (Building 7). Wall footings survive and in places the line of wall faces. Apparent doorway through the west end of the south wall, and faint indication of a channel through the centre. This is a continuation of a small channel cut into the field surface, which appears relatively recent.


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


Gerrard, S., 1998, 149182 (Un-published). SDV260300.

Charge magazine forming part of the gunpowder factory at Powder Mills.


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

Small square building shown on modern mapping.


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

Powder Mills. 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. Source: Dartmoor : A New Study - Industry : Frank Booker.


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

The gunpowder factory at Powder Mills survives well and contains a complete range of buildings and other structures and features associated with the industry. Many of the buildings remain essentially intact, with only the roofs and machinery having been removed. The system of leats and trackways provides useful additional information concerning the character of the factory. The unique survival of the associated proving mortar emphasises the quality of the surviving archaeology. Together with a comprehensive historical background this represents a fine example of a gunpowder production site.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV254157Report - Survey: Pye, A. R. + Robinson, R.. 1990. An Archaeological Survey of the Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills Farm, Postbridge, Devon. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 90.07. A4 Grip Bound.
SDV254160Article in Serial: Pye, A.. 1996. The Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 52. Paperback Volume. 221.
SDV260300Un-published: Gerrard, S.. 1998. 149182. Monument Protection Programme.
SDV336179Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV348725Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2012. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital). [Mapped feature: #91611 ]
SDV348729National Heritage List for England: English Heritage. 2012. National Heritage List for England. Website.
SDV350194Schedule Document: English Heritage. 9/10/1981. Gunpowder factory at Powder Mills. The Schedule of Monuments. Website.
SDV350197Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1979. SX67NW99. Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card. Card Index.

Associated Monuments

MDV5913Part of: Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory, Cherry Brook (Monument)
MDV43175Related to: Building 1: Incorporating Mill at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43184Related to: Building 10: Store Building at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43185Related to: Building 11: Glazing Mill at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43186Related to: Building 12: Breaking House at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43187Related to: Building 13: Press House at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43188Related to: Building 14: Incorporating Mills at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43189Related to: Building 15: Mixing House at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43190Related to: Building 16: Office or Store at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43191Related to: Building 17: Saltpetre Crystallising House at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43192Related to: Building 18: Group of Buildings Including a Cylinder House and Chimney at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Monument)
MDV43176Related to: Building 2: Incorporating Mill at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43177Related to: Building 3: Incorporating Mill at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43178Related to: Building 4: Charge Magazine at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43179Related to: Building 5: Charge Magazine at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43180Related to: Building 6: Charge Magazine at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43181Related to: Building 7: Gunpowder Drying House at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43183Related to: Building 9: Building with Several Elements at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Building)
MDV43197Related to: Leat supplying Western Buildings at Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

Date Last Edited:Aug 8 2014 11:20AM