The site is fascinating - it once had three levels of canals, aqueducts, an 18" gauge railway and offered a wide range of opportunities for massive explosions.
Many people must have died there, as volatile materials were being handled all the time. Feet had to be wiped on elephant skin to prevent grit getting into the manufacturing areas. Powerful chemicals for making TNT were also on site, with the crudest imaginable handling methods. Quite extraordinary and very interesting. Now the site is the subject of various restoration projects, but doubles as a nature reserve, as all the old waterways are great for otters, carp, kingfishers and , naturally, ducks
Original gunpowder boat
and the wonderfully shaped footbridges to clear them.
Fallow deer in the woods
....in spite of some seriously loud noises off....
...and is if that were notenough, a narrow-gauge railway - originally 18" gauge like the Woolwich Arsenal system, but presently 2'-6" gauge. This only for the benefit of Bob, Down Under.......
