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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

ROYAL NAVY ESTABLISHMENTS

POWDER KILNS

Further north from the Keyham Powder Magazine were the Powder Kilns at Kinterbury, in the ancient parish of Saint Budeuax.

The earliest description of them is dated 1812  [1]:

'Higher up the river, are kilns lately erected for the drying of powder which has been damaged.  Prior to the erection of these kilns, all powder of this description was sent to the kilns in Kent, before it could be re-manufactured: this is now effected here.  Every precaution is taken to prevent an explosion.  Here a clerk of the works is resident.  The officers are: Assistant Fire Master, T I Forbes; Clerk, T Haywood.'

On Friday January 26th 1821 the forty barrels of powder in the Kinterbury Powder Works exploded killing 62-years-old Mr Richard Carne and 19-years-old Mr James Matthewson, the son of the Master Cooper at the Works.  Some mangled remains of Mr Carne were found but those of Mr Matthewson were buried beneath the ruins.  The explosion was heard as far away as Liskeard and windows were broken in Saint Stephen's Church at Saltash, and aboard the "Windsor Castle" moored in the Hamoaze.  Kinterbury Farm-house suffered damage to the value of more than £200.  At Torpoint a piece of burnt board was found 'with a penny-piece driven an inch into it'.  [2]

These were later replaced by the Royal Naval Ordnance Depot, Bull Point.
 

Sources:

[1]  "The Picture of Plymouth", Messrs Rees and Curtis, Plymouth, 1812.

[2]  Brindley, Robert, "The Plymouth, Stonehouse & Devonport Directory: Chronological Events", W Byers, Devonport, 1830.

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

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