Timeline

• 1626

  East India Company establish gunpowder mills at Lower Works.

• 1636

  New owners supply government; Middle Works development started east of Blacksmith Lane.

• 1642-52

  Mills supply Parliament in the English Civil War.

• 1652-54

  First Dutch war; Middle Works built on New Cut.

• 1700s

  Upper Works ceased; Paper mills at Lower Works; Middle Works development continues.

• 1809

  East India Company establish gunpowder mills at Lower Works.

• 1865

  Steam power introduced to Middle Works.

• 1870s

  All paper mills closed.

• 1882

  Smokeless (nitrate) explosives factory built.

• 1885

  Chilworth Gunpowder Company, subsidiary of a German company, makes new brown powder and starts expanding east on the site.

• 1901

  Explosion at black powder corning house; six men killed (believed to be caused by a slip on a hobnail boot).

• 1915

  Admiralty cordite factory built at the Upper Works.

• 1920

  All gunpowder works closed.

• 1922—1963

  Various buildings used as residences; known locally as ‘tin town’.