Description and History of Site:-
Originally the site of a small woollen mill, in 1823/4 a local entrepreneur with an interest in quarrying, saw the potential for the manufacture of gunpowder on the site. The seclusion, natural waterpower from the fast-flowing Langdale Beck and a growing demand from the Lakeland mines and quarries ensured success. Charcoal was used in large quantities and was obtained mainly from alder trees managed in local coppiced woodlands.

Within a few years the Elterwater Gunpowder Works was not only supplying the domestic industry, but also exporting to North America and South Africa. The gunpowder works ceased production after 1928 , a victim of the depression and the development of more modern explosives, such as dynamite.

At closure, the danger buildings such as the incorporating mills, corning house, glazing house and magazines, were burned down as required by law because of the danger of gunpowder residues. Thereafter the site was developed as a holiday resort and it is now a hotel with timeshare holiday properties.

Falconer (1980): 'Throughout the second half of the 18th century, and the whole of the 19th century, the manufacture of gunpowder was an important industry in Lakeland. The area not only could provide charcoal, one of the main ingredients, but also had an abundance of water supply and the sites could be well isolated. The most extensive remains of the industry are at Elterwater where incorporating pits of c 1823 with bedstones and crushing runners can be seen and some of the coppice stores have been converted into holiday accommodation.'

Bennett (1993): 'Operated from 1824 to the 1930s. The best preserved site as many of the 'safe' buildings have been converted to hotel and time-share use. Private land but public path through site.'

Further Reading and References:-
Falconer, Keith. 'Guide to England's Industrial Heritage'. Batsford, 1980
Bennett, John and Jan. 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Cumbria'. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 1993
Tyler, Ian. 'The Gunpowder Mills of Cumbria'. Threlkeld: Blue Rock Publications, 2002
Jecock, Marcus, Lax, Amy and Dunn, Christopher . 'Elterwater Gunpowder Works, Cumbria: an archaeological and historical survey'. Archaeological Investigation Report Series, 2003
https://historicengland.org.uk/research/results/reports/109-2003

https://www.langdale.co.uk/langdale-history/
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1086943&resourceID=19191

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- gunpowder

Viewing the Site :- private land but public path through site

Address :- The Langdale Estate, Elterwater, Cumbria, LA22 9JD
Grid Ref :- NY 326 049
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.435028 , Long -3.040589
Local Authority :- Westmorland and Furness Council
Pre 1974 County :- Westmorland
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Contributor :- Robert Mason - 11 October 2023

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason