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Summary

Building 5: Charge magazine 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/51/5
• Old SAM Ref: 28718

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Small rectangular building shown on early 20th century map.

Pye, A. R. + Robinson, R., 1990, An Archaeological Survey of the Gunpowder Factory at Powdermills Farm, Postbridge, Devon, 24, Figures 1-3 (Report - Survey). SDV254157.

Building 5: ?charge magazine at Powder Mills gunpowder factory. Connected to the rear of incorporating mill (Building 2) by a small embanked track which was probably metalled. Ruinous, rectangular, aligned north-east to south-west. All its north-west wall and much of the north-east wall has been removed during construction of a modern track. Original door would appear to have been in one of those walls. Walls generally 0.4 metres thick.

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

Gerrard, S., 1998, 149179 (Un-published). SDV257854.

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

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 The invention of dynamite in 1867 rapidly superceded gunpowder.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.

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

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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