L-R: Timothy West CBE; Trevor Knapp of the Royal Gunpowder Mills; Neil Marshall of the Transport Trust; Ricki Gadsby Mayor of Waltham Abbey; Prunella Scales CBE
[photo : Christine McCree]
The first Red Wheel plaque awarded by the Transport Trust in the London area, was unveiled at the Royal Gunpowder Mills heritage site at Waltham Abbey on Bonfire weekend.
The Mills Trust Director, Mr Trevor Knapp, told the invited audience how the site became the premier facility for the production of gunpowder in Europe. Originally in private hands, it passed into Royal ownership as a key element in support of Britain's Army and Navy. Sulphur and saltpetre were imported to be processed with charcoal made on site. Water was an important resource, both to power the grinding mills and for transport by canal. Finished barrels of powder were sent onwards via the Lee Navigation to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.
The site is an engineering masterpiece of the time, the dispersed plant interlinked by canals at three levels connected by locks and metal aqueducts, the remaining ones being three of only 26 left in the whole country. Within the site, barges were hauled by people so as not to risk sparks from horses’ hooves. The later introduction of a narrow-gauge railway network did not mean the end of people power and teams of women pulled the wagons with their spark-resistant phosphor bronze wheels until safer explosives were developed.
For the Transport Trust, Neil Marshall described the Royal Gunpowder Mills as ‘… a jewel…’ with a remarkable contribution to both social history and the industrial production. He spoke of the site as having helped make the River Lee a remarkable supply chain for industry and of creating the wealth that enabled Britain to become a powerful global force. He described the award of the plaque as ‘… a mark of respect to one of the greatest integrated manufacturing facilities in Britain…’.
Mr Timothy West was then invited to come forward to unveil the plaque. A noted waterways enthusiast, he stated how wonderful it was to be at such an extraordinary site. He had noted the demise of freight transportation by canal, steam railway traction and the end of shipbuilding in Britain, but was warmed by the number of restoration projects of railways and canals in the country and specifically the sale of PS Waverley into preservation for One Pound. He commented that there was no better place than the Royal Gunpowder Mills to showcase and celebrate Britain’s industrial heritage.
Accompanied by the drums of Rawdon’s Regiment, Mr West proceeded to unveil the plaque recognising the importance of the site in Britain’s transport and industrial heritage.
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