Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

In 1912 the Explosives Loading Company Ltd. (E.L.C.) established a plant immediately west of the Cotton Powder Company (TQ 96 NE 9). to compress TNT, and later ammonium nitrate, into charges for shells, torpedoes and mines. On 2nd April 1916, a series of explosions occurred at the works, killing at least 106 people. The facory was rebuilt but finally closed in 1936. A few features, earthworks and a single roofless building, remain.

Monument Types

• GUNPOWDER WORKS (Demolished 1925 - 36, Modern - 1912 AD to 1936 AD? (between))
• MAGAZINE (Demolished 1925 -36, Modern - 1912 AD? to 1936 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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Groups of concrete hard standing, some surrounded by embankments and standing building with no roof. Nothing marked on OS until current edition. Photogrpahs (1-9).

In 1912 the Explosives Loading Company Ltd. (E.L.C.) established a plant immediately west of the Cotton Powder Company (TQ 96 NE 9). to compress TNT, and later ammonium nitrate, into charges for shells, torpedoes and mines. Its factory was much smaller than that of the C.P.C., consisting of only about 30 well-spaced, wooden buildings. Security precautions were excellent, but fire-fighting facilities left more than a little to be desired. On 2nd April 1916, a series of explosions occurred at the works, killing at least 106 people. The initial explosion, in Building 833, created a crater 150 feet (46 m) in diameter and 15 feet ( 4.6 m) deep and also caused damage to the neighbouring CPC site. A mass grave for 69 of the dead was dug at the Faversham cemetery on Love Lane. Though the explosion had devastated the E.L.C. factory it was soon rebuilt and back in full production. In 1918 the factory was taken over by a holding company, Explosives Trades Ltd, along with the nearby CPC site and a smaller factory owned by Eley Brothers. Following this amalgamation production ceased at the Swale side factories and transferred to Denaby, near Doncaster. Most of the buildings were either burnt or sold off.
In 1936 transfer of the residual stocks of gunpowder was complete and the site finally closed.

Today only earthworks, building platforms and a single roofless building remain. (11)

RCHME/NMR, 1996, RCHME : Faversham Explosives Industry (Collection). SKE6479.

RCHME/NMR, 1996, RCHME : Faversham Explosives Industry (Collection). SKE6479.

<1> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11385.

<2> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11384.

<3> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11383.

<4> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10456.

<5> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10378.

<6> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10377.

<7> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9537.

<8> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9536.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9530.

<10> Percival, Arthur, 1985, The Great Explosion at Faversham 2 April 1916 (Article in serial). SKE12717.

Sources and further reading

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