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 8: 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/51/8
• 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

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.