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Twilight Ghost Hunts presents

The Royal Gunpowder Mills Ghost Hunt

Saturday 12th November starting at 9pm and ending at 3am Sunday morning.

Cost per person: £55

The Royal Gunpowder Mills is in Waltham Abbey, which is thought to be the final resting place of King Harold. Harold's church, the Holy Cross and St Lawrence is a stones throw from the mills. The Holy Cross, a black crucifix, found at Montacute in Somerset was brought to Waltham in about 1030 AD. It was believed to have great healing powers and the town became a centre of pilgrimage in medieval times.

The gunpowder mills have over 300 years of history in making gunpowder. Set in 170 acres of land, the Royal Gunpowder Mills in historic Waltham abbey is one of Twilight Ghost Hunts' biggest venues.

From the mid-1850s onwards the site was involved in developing new nitro-based explosives and propellants as well as gunpowder.

There were mass fatalities at the mills, not just the dangerous working conditions but many people lost their lives caused by the huge explosion of one of the incorporating mills in the 1700's. The explosion was so loud it was heard throughout Waltham Abbey. Deaths that occurred here are documented and available at the local parish and in archives at the mill.

During WWII Over 6000 workers where on site at the mills, over 3000 of them where women. The women worked  in the powder mills in very dangerous conditions, playing crucial roles during the war. During WWII, Waltham Abbey remained an important cordite production centre and for the first two years of the war was the sole producer of RDX. RDX is one component of torpex, the explosive that was used in the Bouncing Bomb and developed at the mills.

The Royal Gunpowder Mills ceased producion of cordite at the end of the war in 1945 but continued as a research and development centre for explosives, rockets and other military scienfic projects finally closing in 1991.

For this special evening Twilight Ghost Hunts will have access to the room in the Walton house where Mrs Walton's ghost has been seen many times by staff & visitors. Staff here have reported odd noises whilst walking through the different buildings and a general eerie feeling. During our investigations over the years, we have experienced strange light anomalies here, the sound of phantom rain, shadows walking past the windows and on one occasion we had a cup move on its own across the table towards us!

With a huge area to explore & investigate, the Royal Gunpowder Mills truly is a daunting place after dark!

Find out more about what to expect here.

 

The Royal Gunpowder Mills general visitor information - open Sundays and special days for walking tours:

Visit the Royal Gunpowder Mills website to find out more: www.royalgunpowdermills.com

Must See Attractions (click on the links for latest updates):

The NEW Gunpowder Railway The Gunpowder Railway is a narrow gauge railway running roughly 1 km along the perimeter of the Royal Gunpowder Mills site. A narrow gauge railway was used to transport materials around the site and a dedicated team of volunteers have constructed a 2 foot 6 inch gauge railway, reflecting this history. 

The Mad Lab is home to Professor Nitrate and a fantastic array of science shows. With various shows throughout the day. There's always something new to learn. The Mad Lab is also home to the Professor's assistants who will be on hand to show you their latest experiments with fun take home experiments on offer.

The Rocket Vault. From tank busters to rocket motors used to launch satellites into space – see some of the secret rockets worked on at Waltham Abbey. The exhibition shows the development of rocket motors and propellants from Congreve's gunpowder rocket of the early 19th century through to the guided missiles from the cold war era and in the Falklands war. Former employees are often on hand to give guided tours and answer any technical questions concerning rockets and propellants.

The Armoury (one of our most popular attractions). The Armoury is a unique and comprehensive collection of small arms and militaria, acquired by The Royal Gunpowder Mills with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund. The exhibition displays over 200 historic firearms covering the period from the English Civil War to present day conflicts. Volunteer staff are on hand to explain the science, technology and history of the various types of weapons on display which include heavy medium and light machine guns, sub machine guns, manual and self-loading rifles, revolvers and pistols, mortars, rocket launchers and grenades. Visitors are encouraged to handle and explore a variety of historic weapons - this "hands on" experience is one of the many highlights of the attraction.

Film and Exhibition. An award winning film, revealing the history of explosives and how they were produced at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, makes an ideal starting point to understanding the historical and scientific importance of the Royal Gunpowder Mills. The interactive exhibition is the best way to understand the history surrounding the site and the science behind gunpowder. The exhibition area contains a labyrinth of artefacts, displays and interactive video games explaining how gunpowder and later chemical propellants were discovered, refined and manufactured. It brings both the site, and the people who worked there, alive and allows visitors to understand the buildings and processes they can explore around the 170 acre site.

Women at War Over 3000 women worked at ‘The Powder Mills’ during the war. This is a fascinating photographic display highlighting the vital and varied role women played. This exhibition celebrates the women who worked in the war industries during the First World War. Although over 3000 women were employed here in Waltham Abbey, they are not reflected in this exhibit, these photographs depict work at other factories such as Woolwich.

The Royal Gunpowder Mills is grateful to the Imperial War Museum for enabling this project to happen.

Woodland Walks. Take the Nature Walk trail and perhaps detect some of the amazing wildlife that live here - don't miss the Wildlife Tower for lots more information. The Nature Walk will highlight many of the areas on the site concerned with gunpowder and cordite manufacture and identify the buildings around the site. Our visitors are constantly amazed at the abundance and variety in our woodlands.