Drying House chimney - a photo on Flickriver

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The Drying House chimney, Powder Mills gunpowder factory, Dartmoor, Devon, GBR.

The decision to build a gunpowder mill in Dartmoor was driven by the strong local demand from nearby mining complexes such as Birch Tor, as well as regional quarries including Swell Tor, Foggintor and Merrivale, and agricultural uses such as rock clearance during enclosure. The site produced blackpowder from a mixture of imported saltpetre and sulphur, and locally sourced charcoal, made from alder, willow, juniper and birch. The production process included grinding, blending, incorporation, pressing, granulating (‘corning’), dusting, and drying, often using water-powered machinery. The final product was packed in oak barrels and distributed to regional depots such as Tavistock, Exeter and Plymouth.

The site incorporated extensive safety measures, including widely spaced buildings with light roofs to mitigate blast damage. The industrial remains are complemented by significant prehistoric archaeology, including a Bronze Age hut circle settlement, enclosures, and a cairn, indicating long-term human use of the landscape. This combination of well-documented industrial activity and prehistoric remains makes Powder Mills an exceptional and nationally important heritage site.

‘Powder Mills – Gunpowder Factory’. Accessed 16 May 2025. dartmoorexplorations.co.uk/powder-mills-gunpowder-factory/.

Sandles, Tim. ‘Dartmoor’s Powder Mills’. Accessed 18 May 2025. www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/2017/09/01/dartmoors-powder-m....

Taken in: UK / England / West Devon District / Dartmoor Forest (show map)

Taken on: May 11, 2025

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Powder Mills Gunpowder Factory

Dartmoor National Park

England

United Kingdom

Great Britain

Canon EOS 2000D

Spring

Outdoors

Building

Derelict

Ruin

19th Century

Scheduled Monument

Historical

Historic England

Historical landmark

Grade II Listed

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Sets appears in: • GBR - England • GBR - Dartmoor National Park more » • GBR - Listed Buildings « less

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Camera: Canon EOS 2000D, f/14.0, 1/60 sec, 40mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 2000D
Lens:	EF17-40mm f/4L USM
Aperture:	f/14.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	40mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Partial
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Lightroom 8.3 (Windows)
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