Royal Gunpowder Mills

Royal Gunpowder Mills is set in 170 acres of parkland and comprises 20 historic buildings. The site was established in the seventeenth century and acquired by the Crown in 1787, becoming the foremost producer of gunpowder in England. Cut off from its surroundings by its river boundaries and because of the secrecy of the work that took place there, the park developed a flourishing ecology of wildlife and woodlands, which can be explored via a network of boardwalks, bridges and footpaths. Other attractions include an interactive exhibition exploring the history of the site and the science of gunpowder, an armoury comprising around 200 guns from the English Civil War to the present, the 'Transport and Fire' exhibition, featuring a powder barge and restored locomotives, and a display dedicated to the 1605 'Gunpowder Plot'.