“Documentary evidence shows that gunpowder was produced in the Waltham Abbey area from at least the 17th Century. Later the Royal Gunpowder Mills became the leading English producer. The Waltham Abbey Mills showed off their superiority at trials on Marlborough Downs in 1809/10. Powder from six private gunpowder suppliers, Faversham and Waltham Abbey was used to fire a shell from a naval mortar with Waltham Abbey’s going the furthest.”